FPGA-based Real-Time Spectral Peak Estimator for Radar Altimeter Signal Analysis

This research work presents Real-Time Spectral Peak Estimator for radar altimeter signal analysis on an FPGA- based platform, focusing on accurate beat frequency estimation for precise above-ground level (AGL) altitude measurements. The proposed design is based on the first-order derivative difference estimator combined with zero crossover point detection to identify spectral maxima efficiently. This estimator is implemented using a fixed-point concurrent FPGA architecture to achieve high computational efficiency, low latency, and optimal hardware utilization, enabling real-time processing of radar return signals. This system has been verified and validated during various lab and field tests for the accurate beat frequency estimation under the dynamic signal conditions. The solution meets the stringent performance requirements of radar altimeter applications, making it suitable for aerospace, autonomous landing, and navigation systems where real-time accuracy is critical.