The Method of Evaluation of Radio Altimeter Methodological Error in Laboratory Environment
The presented article is focused on the evaluation of aviation radio altimeter (<i>ALT</i>) methodological error in order to increase air traffic safety. It briefly explains the background of methodological error at the theoretical level and offers practical conclusions to understand the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/14/5394 |
| _version_ | 1797443771358511104 |
|---|---|
| author | Pavol Kurdel Marek Češkovič Natália Gecejová Ján Labun Ján Gamec |
| author_facet | Pavol Kurdel Marek Češkovič Natália Gecejová Ján Labun Ján Gamec |
| author_sort | Pavol Kurdel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The presented article is focused on the evaluation of aviation radio altimeter (<i>ALT</i>) methodological error in order to increase air traffic safety. It briefly explains the background of methodological error at the theoretical level and offers practical conclusions to understand the issue. A radio altimeter provides information on an aircraft or helicopter’s instantaneous (radar) altitude or UAV to the pilot and another assistance system, such as an autopilot or an anticollision system. The height measurement of the most common used <i>ALTs</i> is realized with an accuracy of from ±0.30 m to ±0.75 m. This error rate corresponds to and is caused by the radio altimeter’s methodological error (Δ<i>H</i>). The <i>ALT</i> operating parameters are defined by carrier frequency, modulation frequency, and frequency lift. The methodological error of <i>ALT</i> can be obtained in three ways—calculated on a theoretical level, simulated in a suitable simulation environment, or evaluated in laboratory conditions. The ambiguity of <i>ALT</i> methodological error measurement causes bias in its presentation. This often leads to an incorrect determination of measurement inaccuracy (too optimistic statement of error value). The article’s primary goal is to present a new method for determining the value of the methodological error and its effect on the resulting error of measurement of the radio altitude (radar altitude). It presents a new experimental laboratory method for measuring Δ<i>H</i> and the resulting accuracy of height measurement with a radio altimeter. Thanks to this method, it can be verified that the information obtained by measuring the height above the ground corresponds to the standard specified by the manufacturer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:02:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45b42e7580c24c238badf7da18491c9e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:02:37Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-45b42e7580c24c238badf7da18491c9e2023-11-30T21:52:35ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202022-07-012214539410.3390/s22145394The Method of Evaluation of Radio Altimeter Methodological Error in Laboratory EnvironmentPavol Kurdel0Marek Češkovič1Natália Gecejová2Ján Labun3Ján Gamec4Faculty of Aeronautics, Technical University of Košice, Rampová 7, 041 21 Kosice, SlovakiaFaculty of Aeronautics, Technical University of Košice, Rampová 7, 041 21 Kosice, SlovakiaFaculty of Aeronautics, Technical University of Košice, Rampová 7, 041 21 Kosice, SlovakiaFaculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Kosice, SlovakiaFaculty of Electrical Engineering and Informatics, Technical University of Košice, Letná 9, 042 00 Kosice, SlovakiaThe presented article is focused on the evaluation of aviation radio altimeter (<i>ALT</i>) methodological error in order to increase air traffic safety. It briefly explains the background of methodological error at the theoretical level and offers practical conclusions to understand the issue. A radio altimeter provides information on an aircraft or helicopter’s instantaneous (radar) altitude or UAV to the pilot and another assistance system, such as an autopilot or an anticollision system. The height measurement of the most common used <i>ALTs</i> is realized with an accuracy of from ±0.30 m to ±0.75 m. This error rate corresponds to and is caused by the radio altimeter’s methodological error (Δ<i>H</i>). The <i>ALT</i> operating parameters are defined by carrier frequency, modulation frequency, and frequency lift. The methodological error of <i>ALT</i> can be obtained in three ways—calculated on a theoretical level, simulated in a suitable simulation environment, or evaluated in laboratory conditions. The ambiguity of <i>ALT</i> methodological error measurement causes bias in its presentation. This often leads to an incorrect determination of measurement inaccuracy (too optimistic statement of error value). The article’s primary goal is to present a new method for determining the value of the methodological error and its effect on the resulting error of measurement of the radio altitude (radar altitude). It presents a new experimental laboratory method for measuring Δ<i>H</i> and the resulting accuracy of height measurement with a radio altimeter. Thanks to this method, it can be verified that the information obtained by measuring the height above the ground corresponds to the standard specified by the manufacturer.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/14/5394depolarisation reflection panelheight impulsemethodological errorradio altimetersafety |
| spellingShingle | Pavol Kurdel Marek Češkovič Natália Gecejová Ján Labun Ján Gamec The Method of Evaluation of Radio Altimeter Methodological Error in Laboratory Environment Sensors depolarisation reflection panel height impulse methodological error radio altimeter safety |
| title | The Method of Evaluation of Radio Altimeter Methodological Error in Laboratory Environment |
| title_full | The Method of Evaluation of Radio Altimeter Methodological Error in Laboratory Environment |
| title_fullStr | The Method of Evaluation of Radio Altimeter Methodological Error in Laboratory Environment |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Method of Evaluation of Radio Altimeter Methodological Error in Laboratory Environment |
| title_short | The Method of Evaluation of Radio Altimeter Methodological Error in Laboratory Environment |
| title_sort | method of evaluation of radio altimeter methodological error in laboratory environment |
| topic | depolarisation reflection panel height impulse methodological error radio altimeter safety |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/22/14/5394 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pavolkurdel themethodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment AT marekceskovic themethodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment AT nataliagecejova themethodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment AT janlabun themethodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment AT jangamec themethodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment AT pavolkurdel methodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment AT marekceskovic methodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment AT nataliagecejova methodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment AT janlabun methodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment AT jangamec methodofevaluationofradioaltimetermethodologicalerrorinlaboratoryenvironment |