Applications include Mobile altimeter / barometer systems, Rate of Climb and Descent Indicator (RCDI), High altitude balloons, Height sensing, Navigation, Weather station, Altitude hold for UAVs, IMU builds, rocketry, unpiloted aircraft, remotely operated vehicles, robotics, air pressure and changes in temperature.

Successfully tested at 1,20,000 feet. The Altimeter Module is a high resolution (20 cm) altimeter sensor with SPI and I²C bus interface. It will give extremely accurate, altitude, pressure, and temperature readings.

The Altimeter module combines highly sensitive pressure and temperature sensors. While it’s called an Altimeter module, the sensor is useful for many more applications. By correlating the data from these two sensors it’s possible to determine barometric pressure, altitude, changes in height, rate of climb and descent, and other useful information.

The module includes a high linearity barometric pressure sensor and a high resolution temperature output, allowing implementation of an altimeter/thermometer without any additional sensors. Different operation modes allow the user to optimize for conversion speed or current consumption. The module is designed for use with a large variety of microcontrollers with different voltage requirements.

Features:

• High resolution 20 cm or altitude
• Thermometer of -40 to +85 °C with <.01 °C resolution
• Pressure range of 10–1200 mbar
• Supports I²C and SPI communications
• 24-bit pressure and temperature values
• Successfully tested at 1,20,000 feet
• Wide pressure range

Application Ideas:

• Mobile altimeter / barometer systems
• Rate of climb and descent Indicator (RCDI)
• Height sensing
• Navigation
• Weather station
• Altitude hold for UAVs
• IMU builds

Key Specification:

• Power Requirements: 3.3 to 6.5 VDC
• Current Consumption: ~1.74 mA @ 3.3 VDC
• Communication Interface: I²C (up to 400 kHz) or SPI (20 MHz)
• Operating temperature: -40 to +185 °F (-40 to +85 °C)
• Dimensions: 0.85 X 0.80 in (2.16 X 2.03 cm)

For More Information

• More information on pressure and other forms of altimeters may be found on Wikipedia: Altimeter