Design and implementation of ground echo simulator for radar altimeter

To evaluate and test the performances of radar altimeter systems and signal processor objectively, a design method of the orthogonal base-band echo simulator for radar altimeter based on ground echo simulation is presented. This method provides source data for simulator by echo simulation. In order to reconstruct echo signal realistically and flexibly, bulk data memory and reconfigured FPGA devices are adopted. Specific process for ground echo simulation and simulator hardware implementation methods are also given. The echo simulator's testing and post-processing results are presented at last to prove the validity of this method.