I am looking to build a ground distance sensing device for a full-size aircraft to make a basic “height of the wheels above the ground “ display to help in landing.
I feel like radar is the best technology (reliable, robust, resistant to dirt, surface independent) but the A111 board is not available.
Do you think a lidar device like the Benewake TF02-Pro LiDAR Mid-Range Distance Sensor (also not available) or one of the other lidar based sensors would give a reliable and accurate detection, when travelling at 60mph over different surfaces (dirt, grass, bitumen). I am looking for 30cm to about 2m range (1m could be ok…)
LIDAR is probably not going to work reliably (or at all) in this application, and aircraft manufacturers have been using radar to do this for years so that’s probably the way to go. That being said, we’ve never tested the A111 in an application like this and you could have issues using that as well.
We don’t recommend the A111 for use on aircraft but you should be OK to experiment with one when they come back in stock.
DO NOT use the A111 as a flight instrument or in a life safety application..
It’s not a substitute for an actual radar altimeter
Don’t worry,I certainly won’t do any safety critical stuff… I just thought that since the Mars helicopter used one of your lidar distance sensors it might work… but I guess the high ground speed and so noisy target might be a challenge. (Congrats to the Mars team BTW)