Location is a critical parameter in many situations (real estate comes to mind). On the technology front, though, it’s especially important for asset tracking in the industrial market and in wearables in the consumer electronics space. In its M10 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) platform, u-blox has achieved a new level of positioning performance in an extremely compact format and with very long battery life.
The M10 positioning platform can track up to four GNSS constellations at once to deliver highly accurate positioning data even in challenging environments such as deep urban canyons. The receiver’s Super-S technology helps distinguish positioning signals from background noise to capture positioning data even when satellite signals are weak. Its high RF sensitivity also enables it to work well with small antennas, making it ideal for compact product designs. In sport watches, for instance, u-blox M10 guarantees highly dynamic positioning accuracy during runs in cities, woods, or under an open sky, while preserving battery life.
Designed to consume 12 mW in continuous tracking mode, the M10 requires five times less than the power consumed by previous u-blox meter-level GNSS technology, making it highly suitable for battery-powered applications. The device’s enhanced RF sensitivity also cuts the time it takes for the platform to achieve a first position fix when initialized, further reducing systemic power consumption. And switching to the improved Super-E mode can extend battery life even more.
This new GNSS platform will be supported by AssistNow, the company’s assisted GNSS service, to accelerate positioning and improve accuracy. Depending on the required level of assistance, the service is available free of charge or for a recurring fee.
Thanks to u-blox’s experience in building robust GNSS receivers, the M10 platform incorporates proven techniques for detecting spoofed signals through the analysis of raw GNSS data, jamming-detection strategies, and embedded filters to mitigate the effects of in-band RF interference.
The first products based on the u-blox M10 positioning platform are the MAX-M10S GNSS module and the UBX-M10050 GNSS chipset, which are both available now. Design-in of the u-blox M10 platform is enhanced and simplified with the newly designed u-center GNSS evaluation software.
u-blox, www.u-blox.com/m10