altitudesensing
Altitudesensing is the measurement of an object's height relative to a reference surface, typically mean sea level or the terrain beneath. It is used in aviation, unmanned systems, surveying, and robotics to determine vertical position and support navigation, flight control, and terrain awareness.
The main sensing modalities are barometric pressure sensing, GNSS-based altitude, radar or radio altimetry, and laser
Barometric altitude derives from ambient pressure measured by a barometer. Using a standard atmosphere model, pressure
GNSS altitude estimates height relative to a reference ellipsoid. Vertical accuracy is affected by atmospheric delays,
Radar altimeters measure height above terrain by emitting signals and measuring round-trip travel time; they provide
Data fusion integrates multiple sensors to improve robustness. Common references include AMSL and AGL. Filtering approaches
Applications include aviation, robotics, surveying, and meteorology. Limitations vary by method: weather and temperature effects for