Roke MRA receives ingress protection certification

Roke Manor Research has announced that its Miniature Radar Altimeters (MRA) have received an Ingress Protection (IP) certification. The certification, announced on 6 February, will deliver UAV operators greater flexibility in mission types, including recovery from water.

Both MRA Type 1 and MRA Type 2 models have been granted IP67 certification, following testing for water and dust-proof resistance. Both systems were found to meet the requirements for complete protection from dust ingress and to be waterproof up to a depth of one metre.

The Type 1 MRA provides UAVs and airborne aerial targets with precise altitude above ground level (AGL) measurements, feeding the information to automatic flight control, systems instrumentation and terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS). The Type 2 MRA provides accurate AGL information at low altitudes. Its integral antenna makes it a compact and lightweight solution for UAVs and un/manned VTOL aircraft where space and payload are a premium. The systems are designed for use on a variety of UAV missions, including height monitoring and aerial survey missions.

According to the company, this certification proves the MRAs to be of a robust design and shows they will not be adversely affected by environmental conditions. It also enables drones to be recovered from the water without risking damage to the sensitive altimeter sensor.

Paul Webb, unmanned systems business sector manager, Roke, said: ‘UAV manufacturers purchasing our IP certified MRAs can be confident of reduced lifetime costs as they don’t have to be replaced if a mission results in the UAV being ditched in the sea for recovery. With cost savings a key focus for defence organisations, the assurance that altimeters, costing anything upwards of £10,000 each, will remain operational is a vital consideration.’