Tag: OEM modules

U-blox to offer explorer kits for cm-level positioning designs
The development kits will bring together u-blox’s centimeter-level positioning and wireless communications expertise and services to support faster time-to-market for new products

The XPLR-HPG-1 high-precision GNSS explorer kit. (Photo: u-blox)

U-blox has announced new explorer kits to make it quicker and easier for engineers to design and evaluate products requiring centimeter-level positioning capabilities.

Set to launch in early 2023, the ready-to-use XPLR-HPG-1 and XPLR-HPG-2 solutions will combine u-blox’s unique offering across the key technologies required to achieve highly precise positioning.

As well as an open microcontroller unit (MCU), the kits will include high-precision GNSS positioning with real-time kinematic (RTK), dead-reckoning, cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communications, along with the necessary antennas.

The kits are designed to integrate seamlessly with complementary u-blox services, such as PointPerfect GNSS augmentation service and the ubxlib software component.

The XPLR-HPG-2
High precision GNSS explorer kit. (Photo: u-blox)

The kits will assist engineers working in areas such as micro-mobility and low-speed robotics, helping them build, test and demonstrate early-stage proofs of concept more quickly, supporting faster overall time-to-market.

Both explorer kits will include the full gamut of u-blox technology and software required.
- The modular XPLR-HPG-1 kit will be based around the wireless MCU in the u-blox NORA-W106 , with its Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE capabilities, and will give engineers flexibility to adjust their solutions to their precise needs, using MIKROE Click boards featuring a variety of u-blox modules. The kit will include three Click boards, which respectively incorporate the ZED-F9R high-precision RTK GNSS module, the LARA-R6001D LTE Cat 1 module (global coverage and with built-in MQTT client), and the NEO-D9S L-band correction data receiver module. Engineers can purchase others based on their application’s needs. The kit’s source code will include example software for the Espressif IoT Development Framework (ESP-IDF), based on ubxlib software components.
- The compact XPLR-HPG-2 will deliver an integrated solution, incorporating the ZED-F9R high-precision RTK GNSS, LARA-R6001D LTE Cat 1 (with global coverage and built-in MQTT client) and NEO-D9S L-band correction data receiver modules, as well as the NINA-W106 with its MCU, Bluetooth LE and Wi-Fi capabilities.
October 7, 2022
u-blox brings ARM mbed OS 5 to low-energy IoT modules

u-blox has announced ARM mbed OS 5 support for the ODIN-W2 wireless Internet of Things (IoT) gateway module and the NINA-B1 Bluetooth low energy module.

The ARM mbed OS 5 incorporates a real-time operating system (RTOS) in the core of the operating system. This open environment provides all the features needed to rapidly deploy and develop connected IoT products based on an ARM Cortex-M microcontroller, including security, connectivity and drivers for sensors and I/O devices. On existing u-blox ODIN-W2 and NINA-B1 hardware, customers can now rapidly develop wireless IoT applications making it easier to cut costs, development time and footprint, the company.

At ARM TechCon, held Oct. 26-27 in Santa Clara, California, u-blox will showcase the NINA-B1 and ODIN-W2 in a powerful and responsive IoT sensor-to-gateway-to-cloud scenario. In the live demonstration, the ODIN-W2 will read sensor data via Bluetooth low energy technology from NINA-B1-equipped sensors, and simultaneously stream it via Wi-Fi to an IBM cloud server, allowing for real-time data visualization and analysis.

“The unique combination of u-blox’s ODIN-W2 and NINA-B1 with ARM mbed OS 5 creates the best performing complete IoT architecture solution for applications from sensor data collection to flexible intelligent gateway processing and cloud connectivity, with full support for customer code — all based on the most proven embedded application platform,” said Hakan Svegerud, head of Product Strategy, Short Range Radio, at u-blox.

The already certified ODIN-W2, NINA-B1 and wireless stacks are designed for typical embedded applications, which require a small footprint implementation with responsive, high-performance hardware and an open CPU architecture. Usage scenarios include IoT, and medical and industrial applications, that use multiple sensors and/or smart gateways linked by Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. ODIN-W2’s 1-MB of flash memory offers ample space for all the customer software required to create a powerful gateway.

The ARM mbed development environment, with its extensive tools and libraries, gives embedded application designers and developers full access to each u-blox module’s ARM Cortex-M4 based microcontroller. This allows them to avoid the need for an external host CPU — not only saving bill of materials costs and development resources, but also keeping the board footprint to an absolute minimum.

In addition to providing a consistent development process across multiple products, this environment allows an extremely broad range of sensor and actuator-based IoT designs to be implemented on a single, compact, certified wireless module. Moreover, the u-blox open standard approach ensures ease of IoT connectivity, while still accelerating type approval certification by controlling access to the wireless stacks. All of these advantages combine to reduce time to market to a minimum.

October 24, 2016
Hemisphere GPS Introduces miniEclipse Compact OEM Modules with GNSS Support

Today, Hemisphere GPS announces the Eclipse P300 and Eclipse P301 OEM modules — its next-generation high‑performance compact modules for RTK GNSS applications. Based on new Hemisphere GPS multi-function application firmware and Eclipse GNSS multi‑constellation technology, P300 and P301 provide the ability for tracking commercially available GNSS signals for precise positioning.

P300 is a drop-in board replacement for Hemisphere GPS’ successful Crescent L1 board as well as the first‑generation miniEclipse P200 GPS-only OEM board. P301 is the company’s 20‑pin OEM module configured as a drop-in replacement for a different industry standard interface. Eclipse P300 and P301 improve GNSS positioning performance, particularly with RTK applications, through Hemisphere GPS’ patent-pending SureTrack technology. Benefits include extended and more robust RTK solutions as the rover RTK receiver will process all available signals even if they are not common with the base receiver. RTK solutions are therefore better maintained in challenging environments, with baselines of up to 50 km, and reacquisition times are improved resulting in more robust overall performance, the company said.

P300 and P301 are designed for OEM system integrators who demand the highest level of multi-frequency positioning, accuracy, fast initialization time, and GNSS RTK solutions. Hemisphere GPS’ miniEclipse series includes a single frequency L1 GPS + L1 GLONASS model named P202. Both series are designed for developing integrated high-precision and control applications for geomatics, survey, machine control, and unmanned vehicle solutions.

“P300, P301, and P202 all improve upon our already successful miniEclipse OEM modules adding GNSS support to our most compact modules for excellent accuracy and affordability,” said Phil Gabriel, vice president and general manager, Precision Products, for Hemisphere GPS. “System integrators have a wider range of Hemisphere GPS solutions from which to choose to develop world‑class high‑precision products.”

Measuring 71 mm long and 41 mm wide, miniEclipse allows for easy integration, especially for integrators who are accustomed to Hemisphere GPS’ Crescent and miniEclipse OEM module performance and footprint.

All miniEclipse modules are available through the Hemisphere GPS Precision Products global dealer network.

March 29, 2012