HELICOPTER RADAR ALTIMETER FOR OPERATIONS CARRYING A LOAD UNDERNEATH IT

摘要

A radar altimeter (50) for vehicles (10) that operate with a load (14) suspended underneath is described. The radar altimeter includes a transmitter (52) configured to transmit radar signals toward the ground (12), a receiver (54) configured to receive reflected radar signals from the ground and from the suspended load, and at least one altitude processing channel (56, 58) configured to receive signals from the receiver. The radar altimeter also includes a load profile channel (60) configured to receive signals from the receiver. The load profile channel limits an altitude processing sensitivity of the radar altimeter between the radar altimeter and the suspended load to reduce a likelihood that the radar altimeter will process signals reflected by the suspended load.