diff --git a/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.cpp b/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.cpp
index fbcbd17531..0e6ce9c1af 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.cpp
@@ -382,6 +382,18 @@ Vector3f get_vel_correction_for_sensor_offset(const Vector3f &sensor_offset_bf,
     return rot_ef_to_bf.mul_transpose(vel_offset_body) * -1.0f;
 }
 
+/*
+  calculate a low pass filter alpha value
+ */
+float calc_lowpass_alpha_dt(float dt, float cutoff_freq)
+{
+    if (dt <= 0.0f || cutoff_freq <= 0.0f) {
+        return 1.0;
+    }
+    float rc = 1.0f/(M_2PI*cutoff_freq);
+    return constrain_float(dt/(dt+rc), 0.0f, 1.0f);
+}
+
 #if CONFIG_HAL_BOARD == HAL_BOARD_SITL
 // fill an array of float with NaN, used to invalidate memory in SITL
 void fill_nanf(float *f, uint16_t count)
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.h b/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.h
index 2919926609..3ade72b377 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Math/AP_Math.h
@@ -290,6 +290,11 @@ bool rotation_equal(enum Rotation r1, enum Rotation r2) WARN_IF_UNUSED;
  */
 Vector3f get_vel_correction_for_sensor_offset(const Vector3f &sensor_offset_bf, const Matrix3f &rot_ef_to_bf, const Vector3f &angular_rate);
 
+/*
+  calculate a low pass filter alpha value
+ */
+float calc_lowpass_alpha_dt(float dt, float cutoff_freq);
+
 #if CONFIG_HAL_BOARD == HAL_BOARD_SITL
 // fill an array of float with NaN, used to invalidate memory in SITL
 void fill_nanf(float *f, uint16_t count);