For UAV system integrators, achieving stable and precise altitude hold is critical for safety, mission success, and compliance. While sensor accuracy is important, the response time or data frame rate of altitude sensors is equally vital. Slow response times can cause flight instability and delayed reactions to environmental changes, jeopardizing the system. Selecting lidar sensors with optimal response times is essential to meet the demands of modern UAV applications.

The Importance of High-Frequency Data

A UAV's flight controller continuously makes micro-adjustments to motor speeds to maintain its position in three-dimensional space. For altitude hold, it relies on a constant stream of data from its altitude sensor. The speed at which this data is delivered, known as the frame rate or update rate (measured in Hertz, Hz), directly impacts the controller's ability to react.

Enhancing Flight Stability

A high frame rate provides the flight controller with more data points per second. This high-frequency feedback loop allows the system to:

· Correct for Deviations Faster: When a drone encounters a sudden gust of wind or an updraft, a sensor with a high update rate (e.g., 100Hz or higher) immediately reports the change in altitude. The flight controller can then issue corrective commands to the motors almost instantly, minimizing altitude deviation and maintaining a stable hover.

· Improve Control Loop Performance: Flight control algorithms, such as PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative) controllers, perform better with low-latency data. A high frame rate reduces the time between measurement and reaction, allowing for a more aggressive and responsive control tune without introducing oscillations.

Enabling Dynamic Maneuvers

For applications that require rapid changes in altitude or high-speed, low-level flight (terrain following), a fast response time is non-negotiable. A sensor providing data at several hundred Hertz or more ensures the flight controller has the most current altitude information, enabling it to execute dynamic maneuvers safely and precisely. A low frame rate would introduce a lag, causing the drone to either overshoot its target altitude or react too slowly to rising terrain.

Factors Influencing Required Response Time

The optimal sensor response time depends on the specific application and operational environment.

· Drone Size and Agility: Smaller, more agile drones require faster control loops and therefore benefit from higher frame rates to maintain stability.

· Operational Speed: UAVs operating at high speeds need faster updates to ensure they can react to changes in terrain or obstacles in time.

· Environmental Conditions: Flying in turbulent or windy conditions necessitates a more responsive system to counteract external forces effectively.

Introducing the TFA170-L: Optimized for High-Speed Altitude Hold

For developers of advanced UAV platforms, the Benewake TFA170-L single-point drone altimeter sensor offers the high-performance specifications needed for superior altitude hold. It is engineered to provide the high-frequency, accurate data required for stable and responsive flight control. 

The TFA170-L delivers reliable measurements essential for terrain following, precision landing, and overall flight safety, even in dynamic conditions.

Key Specifications of Benewake TFA170-L drone altimeter sensor:

· Detection Range: 0.1-170m

· Frame Rate: 50 Hz (default)

· Ranging Accuracy: +10cm(<10m), 1%(≥10m)

· Filed of View: <0.5°

· Weight: 10 g

Its adjustable high frame rate and IP67-rated enclosure make the TFA170-L a robust and cost-effective solution for demanding UAV applications.

As a global technology company with hundreds of patents and operations in over 90 countries, Benewake delivers innovative and reliable LiDAR solutions. Our technology is trusted by leading enterprises in rail transit, civil aviation, shipping, and industrial automation to build safer, more intelligent systems.

Contact our team to discover how the TFA170-L can provide the responsive altitude data your UAV system requires.