Abstract: Techniques for mitigating network interference from impacting a radar altimeter implemented on a vehicle include determining signal parameters from received network signals from a telecommunications network, such as a 5G network. The signal parameters can include the signal strength of the network signals and the timing synchronization information of the network signals. The operation of the radar altimeter is adjusted based on the signal parameters received from the network signals.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring velocity and acceleration with a radar altimeter. In certain embodiments, a method for measuring velocity magnitude of a platform in relation to a surface includes transmitting a radar beam, wherein the radar beam is aimed toward a surface. The method also includes receiving a plurality of reflected signals, wherein the plurality of reflected signals correspond to portions of the transmitted radar beam that are reflected by a plurality of portions of the surface. Further, the method includes applying Doppler filtering to the plurality of signals to form at least one Doppler beam. Also, the method includes identifying range measurements within each Doppler beam in the at least one Doppler beam. The method further includes calculating one or more coefficients of the Taylor expansion of the velocity magnitude based on the range measurements of the at least one Doppler beam.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of determining altitude information with a radar receiver with quadrature detection is provided. A method includes generating baseband frames. An oscillator signal is created within each of the baseband frames. A return of the oscillator signal is coupled to a first input of a mixer. Moreover, the oscillator signal is coupled to a second input of the mixer. A phase of the oscillator signal is selectively changed between two or more distinct values. Timing of the change being based at least in part on a baseband frame timing of the generated baseband frames. Samples of an output of the mixer are selectively collected further based at least in part on the baseband frame timing. The collected samples are processed to compute altitude information.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to determine a range of a sling load from a vehicle. In one embodiment, an FMCW RADAR altimeter generates an altitude history image that is used to determine the range of the sling load from the vehicle and an altitude of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an interference prevention system in a radar altimeter are provided. A method includes generating integer values with at least one pseudorandom noise sequence generator. The generated integer values are used as indexes to select at least one of start frequencies and stop frequencies from at least one frequency table for frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) ramps for a generated radar signal. The selected at least one of the start frequencies and the stop frequencies is provided to a frequency synthesizer. The at least one of start frequencies and the stop frequencies are used in generating transmit frames of the radar signal with the frequency synthesizer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the sea state beneath a platform using a radar altimeter is provided. The method includes dividing a received wide angle radar beam into a plurality of Doppler bins. Ranges to a sea surface is tracked for at least one Doppler bin over time. Wave spectrum information associated with the sea state is estimated based on at least one tracked range. The estimated wave spectrum information includes at least one of a primary peak period estimation and a significant wave height estimation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to determine a range of a sling load from a vehicle. In one embodiment, an FMCW RADAR altimeter generates an altitude history image that is used to determine the range of the sling load from the vehicle and an altitude of the vehicle.

Abstract: Systems and methods for measuring velocity and acceleration with a radar altimeter. In certain embodiments, a method for measuring velocity magnitude of a platform in relation to a surface includes transmitting a radar beam, wherein the radar beam is aimed toward a surface. The method also includes receiving a plurality of reflected signals, wherein the plurality of reflected signals correspond to portions of the transmitted radar beam that are reflected by a plurality of portions of the surface. Further, the method includes applying Doppler filtering to the plurality of signals to form at least one Doppler beam. Also, the method includes identifying range measurements within each Doppler beam in the at least one Doppler beam. The method further includes calculating one or more coefficients of the Taylor expansion of the velocity magnitude based on the range measurements of the at least one Doppler beam.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of determining altitude information with a radar receiver with quadrature detection is provided. A method includes generating baseband frames. An oscillator signal is created within each of the baseband frames. A return of the oscillator signal is coupled to a first input of a mixer. Moreover, the oscillator signal is coupled to a second input of the mixer. A phase of the oscillator signal is selectively changed between two or more distinct values. Timing of the change being based at least in part on a baseband frame timing of the generated baseband frames. Samples of an output of the mixer are selectively collected further based at least in part on the baseband frame timing. The collected samples are processed to compute altitude information.

Abstract: Systems and methods of operating an interference prevention system in a radar altimeter are provided. A method includes generating integer values with at least one pseudorandom noise sequence generator. The generated integer values are used as indexes to select at least one of start frequencies and stop frequencies from at least one frequency table for frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) ramps for a generated radar signal. The selected at least one of the start frequencies and the stop frequencies is provided to a frequency synthesizer. The at least one of start frequencies and the stop frequencies are used in generating transmit frames of the radar signal with the frequency synthesizer.