Patent ID: 6731236
Filing Date: 2004-05-04
Classification: G01S

Abstract:
An apparatus for calibrating an interferometric radar altimeter, the radar altimeter providing an interferometric angle to a target based on radar energy received at a right antenna, a left antenna, and an ambiguous antenna located between the right and left antennas, said apparatus comprising:a turntable on which the radar altimeter is mounted; a turntable controller which controls positioning of the radar altimeter on said turntable; a radar source receiving transmit signals from the radar altimeter; a reflector which reflects radar energy from said radar source towards the radar altimeter on said turntable, said reflector positioned to collimate the radar energy reflected to said turntable; and a calibration unit receiving an angle from said turntable controller indicative of an orientation of the radar altimeter with respect to the collimated radar energy and a measured angle from the radar altimeter indicative of a perceived orientation of the radar altimeter with respect to the collimated radar energy, said calibration unit calculating a radar calibration correction based on a difference between the angle received from the turntable and the measured angle received from the radar altimeter, said unit providing the calibration correction to the radar altimeter.