GPS World

Tag: u-blox M10

  • U-blox launches firmware-upgradeable GNSS chips with low power consumption

    U-blox launches firmware-upgradeable GNSS chips with low power consumption

    U-blox has launched the UBX-M10150-KB chip and the MAX-M10N module, the first M10-platform GNSS hardware designed with firmware upgradeability. Both products run the new SPG 5.30 firmware, introducing Low Energy Accurate Positioning (LEAP) — a mode that reduces power consumption by up to 50 percent while maintaining superior positioning accuracy.

    Designed for battery-powered devices, the new chip offers ultra-low power consumption of just 8 mW in continuous tracking. The new products are suitable for vehicle, people and pet tracking, as well as livestock monitoring and wearable applications.

    The UBX-M10150-KB and MAX-M10N extend the capabilities of the M10 family beyond previous ROM-based products. With SPG 5.30, they offer a set of new technical features: LEAP replaces cyclic tracking mode to achieve significant energy savings including external LNA power cycling, and RTCM corrections input supports positioning accuracy down to the sub-meter level. In addition, the firmware adds data logging and geofencing functions, enabling more autonomous tracking and monitoring directly on the device.

    By combining these improvements with firmware upgradeability, the new hardware provides a future-proof solution. Customers can benefit from future firmware releases that deliver ongoing performance enhancements and new functionality throughout the product lifecycle, the company said.

    Both products include lifetime access to AssistNow Predictive Orbits and Live Orbits, which accelerate start-up times and improve positioning performance when using small antennas or operating in weak-signal environments. The EVK-M102 evaluation kit and u-center 2 software are available to simplify the design-in phase for developers.

    The UBX-M10150-KB and MAX-M10N, running SPG 5.30 firmware, are available as engineering samples now and will be fully available later in this month.

  • u-blox releases LTE-M/NB-IoT module

    u-blox releases LTE-M/NB-IoT module

    u-blox has released the LEXI-R4, a module customized for size-constrained application requirements. The device is suitable for small asset trackers, such as pet and personal trackers, micro-mobility devices, and luggage tags.

    Photo:
    Image: u-blox

    The LEXI-R4 module supports all LTE-M and NB-internet of things (IoT) bands, with an RF output power of 23 dBm. It is natively designed to support GNSS AT commands, and its dedicated port enables easy integration with any u-blox M10-based GNSS module, such as the MIA-M10.

    Additionally, the module can connect to additional positioning services, such as AssistNow and CellLocate.

    The compact size of the module, measuring 16 mm x 16 mm, results from a 40% footprint reduction in dimensions compared to the previous u-blox SARA-R4. Due to its small size, remaining space could host larger antennas, which can improve RF performance, or accommodate larger-size batteries.

    Another feature of the LEXI-R4 is its 2G fallback capability. Whenever LTE-M/NB-IoT coverage conditions are not optimal, it continues to function by falling back onto a 2G network. The company said this feature could be helpful in countries where LTE-M/NB-IoT networks have yet to be fully deployed.

  • U-blox adds LENA-R8 GNSS receiver to LTE Cat 1 portfolio

    U-blox adds LENA-R8 GNSS receiver to LTE Cat 1 portfolio

    Photo: U-blox
    Photo: U-blox

    U‑blox has added a GNSS receiver module to its cellular LTE Cat 1 portfolio. The GNSS receiver in the LENA-R8 is based on the u‑blox M10 platform.

    U-blox also introduced the LARA-R6, its smallest LTE Cat 1 module with global coverage. Together, the modules comprise five certified global, multi-regional and regional product variants, simplifying logistics for product developers and increasing design flexibility.

    Both modules offer device makers facing imminent 2G and 3G network sunsets a future-proof migration path to 4G technology for data-streaming applications.

    Additionally, they offer MQTT Anywhere and MQTT Flex connectivity via u‑blox’s Thingstream platform out of the box, thereby enabling low-power, low-cost connectivity with globally ubiquitous, seamless roaming.

    Tracking and Telematics

    The LENA-R8 standard-grade module series targets customers in the tracking and telematics markets seeking to minimize costs associated to their bill of material and data charges. The compact module balances cost and performance with single Rx antenna and primarily targets customer deployments in the Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia, and South America regions.

    The LENA-R8 supports a broad range of frequency bands with 2G fallback, providing maximum roaming coverage for global tracking applications using a single stock keeping unit (SKU).

    A variant of the LENA-R8 series comes with an ultra-low power u‑blox M10 GNSS receiver for high performance asset tracking applications, reducing integration effort and time to market. Making no compromises in terms of GNSS performance, the module can concurrently receive up to four GNSS constellations for maximum position availability.

    CellLocate Support

    All variants of the LARA-R6 and LENA-R8 family support CellLocate, u‑blox’s cellular network-based location service, for coarse positioning data even in the absence of GNSS signals.

    Engineering samples will be available in February.

  • U-blox releases u-center 2 GNSS evaluation software

    U-blox releases u-center 2 GNSS evaluation software

    Screenshot: U-blox
    Screenshot: U-blox

    U‑blox has launched its new GNSS evaluation software, u-center 2. The software, which runs on Microsoft Windows, offers anyone working with 10th-generation (M10) u‑blox GNSS technology a highly intuitive interface to configure GNSS products, evaluate their performance, improve the quality of their software, and experience the performance boost achieved using GNSS-related services.

    U-center 2 is the successor to the u-center GNSS evaluation software, which has been used by design engineers for almost two decades to develop GNSS receiver applications. Compatible with u‑blox M10 GNSS technology, u-center 2 is designed to offer improved performance over its predecessor, as well as new features that simplify configuration, evaluation and software development of GNSS-based solutions.

    Screenshot: U-blox
    Screenshot: U-blox

    U-center 2 provides personalized workspaces with adaptive window elements offering a choice of views to observe static and dynamic behavior of the connected GNSS receiver. The built-in log player, which accepts log files from the previous version of the software, features easy message- and time-based navigation and lets users set the playback speed, making development of end products more efficient. Automatic updates ensure that the software includes the latest features with minimal user effort.

    U-center 2 simplifies the evaluation of GNSS-related location services such as AssistNow, through which GNSS receivers gain access to GNSS aiding data, enhancing startup performance, and saving power.

    Predecessor u‑center will continue to be the go-to solution for GNSS solutions based on earlier technology platforms.

    “We are confident that users will immediately recognize how easy u-center 2 makes it to set up and evaluate the latest generations of our GNSS chips and modules,” said Bernd Heidtmann, product manager, Product Strategy for Standard Precision GNSS, u‑blox. “With its fresh and minimalist user interface, the upcoming quick product configuration designed for key use cases, and optimized data logging, u-center 2 will raise the benchmark for GNSS evaluation tools in terms of performance and user experience.”

    U-center 2 is free for download.