Geolux LX-80-AB water level measurement kit
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The Geolux LX-80-AB is an airborne radar level sensor that, flown on a drone, measures water-surface elevation on demand and bridges the gap between fixed water-level stations. HobiTech supplies it in India as an Official Partner of SPH Engineering.
Payload datasheet
| Payload type | Radar altimeter |
| Weight of the payload | 0.6 kg |
| Radar type | W-band 77–81 GHz FMCW radar |
| Beam angle width | 5° |
| Max. detection distance | 40 m |
| Blind zone | 0.2 m |
| Measurement resolution | 0.5 mm |
| Measurement accuracy | +/- 2 mm |
| Sampling frequency | 10 sps |
| Input voltage | 9 – 27 VDC |
| Power consumption | 1.5 W |
| Max. peak current | < 470 mA |
| Dimensions | Ø 65 mm x H 78 mm |
| Operating temperature range | -40°C to +85°C |
| Interfaces | RS-232, RS-485, CAN, SDI-12 |
| IP rating | IP68 |
| Certificates and compliance | EN 61326-1:2013 ETSI EN 301 489-1 ETSI EN 301 489-3 EN 62368-1:2014+A11:2007 EN 60950-22:2017 EN 61010-1:2010 FCC Part 15 class B ISED RSS211 |
Documentation & data sets
What is the Geolux LX-80-AB used for?
Water-level observation measures and records the height of water at a location over time. It is a core part of hydrology. The LX-80-AB is a radar level sensor built to fly on a drone. It bridges the gap between fixed measurement stations and gives a fuller picture of a water body. It also lets you take measurements on demand at specific locations.
SPH Engineering lists these usage scenarios: water level monitoring for rivers, channels and lakes; early flood warning; water reservoir monitoring and irrigation control; observing the level of various fluids in the chemical industry; and monitoring levels in wastewater and industrial applications.
Why measure water level from a drone?
The most common method is a simple device along the shoreline, such as a tide level scale or a water level indicator. Its limits:
- Hard to install in hard-to-reach places.
- Sometimes there is no installation option at all.
- Visual control only.
Another method is a radar altimeter fixed to a bridge or a stand-alone mast. Its limits:
- System purchase costs.
- Installation costs.
- Operating costs.
- A limited number of installation places.
- Vandalism.
A drone is compact and easy to transport and deploy. It follows planned survey lines with high precision. It can work anywhere with a small area for take-off and landing near the water. The drone can fly in autonomous mode at an altitude of up to 40 m along the river and give water-surface elevation profiles with centimetre accuracy. Water is an excellent reflector of microwaves, so any water surface inside the sensor footprint dominates the return signal.
How does the LX-80-AB radar work?
The LX-80-AB (Airborne) payload is based on the Geolux LX-80 radar altimeter platform. It is a frequency-modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar that works in the W-band, at 77–81 GHz. This part of the spectrum is freely available in most of the world for water-level sensing radars, so the sensor can be operated without a specific spectrum licence. Its transmission power is well below any health and safety limits.
How does it work with SkyHub, UgCS and your drone?
The integrated drone system for water-level observation includes:
- A commercially available drone such as the DJI M300 RTK or M350 RTK, or a drone based on the Pixhawk autopilot.
- The Geolux LX-80-AB radar level sensor.
- The SkyHub on-board computer, to control the mission and store geotagged measurements.
- Onboard SkyHub software, to manage the flight, log data and send real-time sensor data to the ground.
- UgCS software, to control the mission.
SkyHub is the heart of the system. One of its main jobs is to log the radar measurements in geotagged form, using the drone's GPS receiver. If the drone has an RTK/PPK receiver, each data point has coordinates precise to centimetres.
On the ground, UgCS runs with an additional companion application that controls the drone with the sensor. The flight operator sees the current reading from the radar level sensor live. Browse the full hydrology range.
What data do you get?
The radar altimeter sends processed distance data through an RS-232 serial line ten times per second. Measurements are stored in a simple text CSV format with coordinates, altitude and additional information. You can import them into any software that processes XYZ data.
Why buy the LX-80-AB kit from HobiTech?
HobiTech is an Official Partner of SPH Engineering based in Bengaluru, India. Every order comes with a GST invoice, and you have a local team for the sensor, the drone and the software. SPH training courses are listed on our training page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is the Geolux LX-80-AB?
The payload datasheet gives a measurement accuracy of +/- 2 mm and a resolution of 0.5 mm. Flown on a drone, the system gives water-surface elevation profiles with centimetre accuracy.
How high can the drone fly over the water?
The drone can fly autonomously at up to 40 m along the river. The sensor's maximum detection distance is 40 m, with a 0.2 m blind zone.
Which drones can carry the LX-80-AB?
SPH Engineering names commercially available drones such as the DJI M300 RTK and M350 RTK, as well as drones based on the Pixhawk autopilot. The sensor weighs 0.6 kg.
Is SkyHub needed?
Yes. SkyHub is part of the integrated system. It controls the mission, logs geotagged measurements and sends real-time sensor data to the ground.
What data do I get from a survey?
Readings arrive ten times per second and are stored as CSV files with coordinates, altitude and additional information, ready for any software that handles XYZ data.
How do I buy the Geolux LX-80-AB kit in India?
Use Request a quote on this page, or call HobiTech on +91 70225 26509. We confirm the price and configuration, and every order comes with a GST invoice.