The primary application of pressure sensor in aerospace applications is the measurement of airplanes' altitude. But pressure sensors can also be used for velocity measurement, like in Pitot tubes for example. Variometers, measuring vertical speed also use pressure rate of change to estimate climbing or falling.
But pressure sensors might also be used in more complex systems, like in wind-tunnels when designing wing profiles.



For altimeter and variometer applications, the MS5534 or the MS5540, 1-bar Barometer Modules are the ideal choice. Thanks to their digital interface, they can be directly connected to any microcontroller. Their On-Chip calibration PROM is factory programmed, thus allowing high-precision appliances with an accuracy comparable to modern aircraft instruments.

The MS5534/MS5540 have a resolution of 0.1 mbar representing 1 meter of altitude (near the sea level). The wide operating range (10 mbar to 1100 mbar) makes them suitable for any application from the sea level up to the upper part of the atmosphere.




The Pitot tube (named after Henri Pitot in 1732) measures a fluid velocity by measuring the pressure difference between two points: One that is perpendicular to the flow and another one parallel to the flow. A device like the MS5201D is ideal for that kind of application since its nozzle ease connection of pressure source.