Dev kits ease precise positioning designs

Combining its expertise in wireless communications and centimeter-level positioning, u-blox has developed two new explorer kits that make it easier for engineers to evaluate products requiring centimeter-level positioning capabilities. The ready-to-use XPLR-HPG-1 and XPLR-HPG-2 solutions, available in early 2023, are the first to combine u-blox’s portfolio across the key technologies required to achieve highly precise positioning, said the company.

(Source: u-blox)

The development kits include an open microcontroller (MCU), a high-precision GNSS (HPG) positioning with real-time kinematic (RTK), dead reckoning, cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and the necessary antennas. In addition, the kits are designed to integrate with complementary u-blox services, such as PointPerfect GNSS augmentation service, and the ubxlib software component.

The kits target micromobility and low-speed robotics applications. They are designed to help engineers build and demo early-stage proofs of concept.

The two explorer kits offer designers greater flexibility, depending on their requirements. The modular XPLR-HPG-1 kit is based around the wireless MCU in the u-blox NORA-W106, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE capabilities. This kit gives engineers flexibility to adjust their solutions to meet their requirements using MIKROE Click boards featuring a variety of u-blox modules.

The XPLR-HPG-1 kit includes 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. Other Click boards can be purchased. 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 offers 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.

“The blend of technologies available in a single explorer kit will give designers the ability to achieve centimeter-level positioning in a variety of applications, said u-blox. “The GNSS receiver provides an initial position reading, which is then refined using correction data from the PointPerfect service, delivered using L-band satellite signals, as well as cellular and/or Wi-Fi communication.”