US-D1 vs US-D1 Pro

With the release of Ainstein’s newest product, the US-D1 Pro Radar Altimeter, it is good to go back and acknowledge both the differences and similarities between it and Ainstein’s benchmark product, the US-D1 Radar Altimeter. The US-D1 Pro was designed with the US-D1 in mind, with the desire to maintain the US-D1’s small, compact size, while also expanding on its performance and certifications. Some of those improvements on the US-D1 include altitude limitations, ingress protection, and aerospace standards. While there are differences between the two radar altimeters, both have their own advantages and ideal use cases.

Differences between the US-D1 and US-D1 Pro

Size and Weight

• The US-D1 has dimensions of 108 x 79 x 20 mm and a weight of 110 grams.
• The US-D1 Pro has dimensions of 101.8 x 76 x 24.7 mm and a weight of 140 grams. 

Altitude and Precision

• The US-D1 has an altitude range of 0.5 meters to 50 meters with an altitude precision of  ±4 cm at altitudes below 1 meter and ±6 cm at altitudes greater than 1 meter.
• The US-D1 Pro has an altitude range of 0.5 meters to 120 meters with an altitude precision of ±0.1 meters at altitudes less than or equal to 10 meters and 1% at altitudes greater than 10 meters.

Ingress Protection

• The US-D1 has an IP67 ingress protection rating 
  • Fully dust-tight
  • Submersion in water for up to 1 meter for 30 minutes
• The US-D1 Pro has an IP69K ingress protection rating
  • Fully dust-tight
  • Can withstand high pressure and high-temperature water

Aviation Standards and Certifications

• The US-D1 has both FCC and CE certifications
• The US-D1 Pro has been designed to FCC, CE, DO-160, DO-178, and DO-254 standards

Ruggedness/Safety

• With the additional DO standard design of the US-D1 Pro comes an increase in the radar altimeter’s ruggedness.
  • DO-160:
    • The US-D1 Pro has been designed to pass rigorous EMI tests, which include the ability to withstand high vibrations, temperature changes, pressure, salt spray, and lightning.
  • DO-178:
    • The US-D1 Pro has been designed to verify aerospace software-based safety standards, ensuring safe functionality.
  • DO-254:
    • The US-D1 Pro has been designed to meet guidelines complying with FAA/EASA airworthiness regulations, ensuring that the hardware is reliable, traceable, and thoroughly tested for safe operation within civilian aviation

Use Cases:

US-D1

The US-D1 is ideal for low-altitude, commercial applications where size and weight are a crucial consideration. 

Some of the following applications are ideal for the US-D1:

• Utility/Inspection
• Construction
• Smart Ag
• Forestry/Surveying
• Low-Altitude Terrain Following

US-D1 Pro

The US-D1 Pro is ideal for extended-altitude, more rugged applications, where a higher altitude is required without adding a large payload. With the US-D1 Pro being designed to DO standards, manned-aircraft applications are also an ideal use case for the radar altimeter. 

Some of the following applications are ideal for the US-D1 Pro:

• Last Mile Delivery/Cargo Delivery
• Smart Ag/Spraying
• UAM/AAM
• VTOL/eVTOL
• Emergency Services
• Extended-Altitude Terrain Following

For a full comparison of the specs on these two products against our other two radar products, the LR-D1 and LR-D1 Pro, please view our chart featured on our Aerospace Industry page.