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Connected padlock featuring u‑blox technology

Connected padlock featuring u‑blox technology protects and tracks goods in transit

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Courtesy of u-blox : Connected padlock featuring u‑blox technology

The heavy‑duty i‑Lock offers customizable access, real‑time tracking, and tamper alerts for industrial applications.

Thalwil, Switzerland – October 10, 2018 – u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies, announced their collaboration with India‑based Play Inc. on a connected GPS padlock for industrial applications. The lock, which doubles as a location tracker, features a u‑blox M8 GNSS receiver, MAX‑M8Q, and uses the u‑blox CellLocate® service to extend positioning to indoor locations. u‑blox Bluetooth low energy with NINA‑B112, and 2G, 3G and 4G u‑blox cellular communication modules, including some that are ATEX certified, enable communication between users and the lock.

In many industrial settings, locks are an unwelcome bottleneck. They typically require the physical presence of a person with a key to open them, they need to be checked periodically for signs of tampering, and when they are forced open, owners typically find out too late.

Play Inc’s i‑Lock combines physical toughness and wireless technology to address these challenges. Offering a variety of access methods, including physical keys and keyless approaches using remote GPRS and SMS passwords as well as Bluetooth low energy or cloud‑based communication via mobile device apps, the i‑Lock lets plant managers or other customers flexibly grant authorization to access the goods that are under lock. And in the event that the padlock is forcefully opened, they are immediately alerted via a server or, optionally, SMS.

In addition to securing mobile and stationary goods, the lock’s GNSS receiver lets users track goods in transit. The i‑Lock supports a variety of tracking modes to optimize power consumption for increased autonomy. Location‑awareness further enables geofence restricted applications, in which the i‑Lock can only be open if it is within predefined geographical bounds, e.g. a petroleum filling station.

The robust security lock was designed to endure both physical attempts of tampering and cyberattacks. Its fiberglass reinforced enclosure withstands temperatures from -20 to +80 degrees Celsius. The lock features Super Admin, Admin, and User access levels, 128 bit AES encryption, user‑configurable passwords, and a secure protocol to ensure data‑transmission accuracy.

The i‑Lock will be presented at The IoT Solutions Congress Barcelona on October 16‑18, 2018.

About u‑blox
u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

Find us on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter @ublox and YouTube

u‑blox contact:
Natacha Seitz
PR Manager
Tel +41 44 722 73 88
natacha.seitz@u-blox.com

u‑blox SARA‑N410

u‑blox SARA‑N410 module enables a wide range of IoT applications

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Courtesy of u-blox : u-blox module certified on T-Mobile US’s new NB-IoT network

u‑blox’s LTE Cat NB1 SARA‑N410 module enables a wide range of IoT applications.

Thalwil, Switzerland – October 2, 2018 – u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a leading global provider of positioning and wireless communication technologies, today announced that T‑Mobile US has certified its LTE Cat NB1 SARA‑N410 module to run on its new NB‑IoT network, the first NB‑IoT network to launch in the US.

At an ultra compact 16 x 26 mm, SARA‑N410 supports ultra low power consumption, making it ideal for cost optimized long‑term solutions required by many IoT applications. Those include utilities such as gas, water and electricity metering, smart cities for instance with street lighting, parking sensors and waste management, smart buildings with building automation, HVAC and access control, as well as industrial monitoring and control.

Critical firmware updates can be delivered securely with u‑blox proprietary uFOTA (firmware over the air) client/server solution that uses LWM2M, a light and compact protocol ideal for IoT applications. This enables customers to maintain the hardware over the full lifetime of the product for future enhancements to features and functionalities, especially in the case of crucial applications running on devices deployed over long periods of time. SARA‑N410 also supports non‑IP data delivery, a more efficient way of transmitting data for throughput‑constrained low power wide area (LPWA) technologies.

SARA‑N410’s nested design provides easy migration between u‑blox 2G, 3G and 4G modules, while enabling future‑proof, seamless mechanical scalability across technologies. With a temperature range of -40 to +85°C, the module supports Power Save Mode (PSM) and Extended Discontinuous Reception (e‑DRX), which can extend battery lifetime up to 10 years.

3GPP Coverage Enhancement permits the module’s connectivity to reach deeper into buildings and even underground when compared to other air interface technologies such as GSM or Cat 1.

“The u‑blox SARA‑N410 is now certified for T‑Mobile’s new NB‑IoT network and thereby enhances u‑blox’s position as a leader in Narrowband IoT, a globally recognized standard with extended coverage and low power consumption,” said Patty Felts, Principal Product Manager, Product Center Cellular at u‑blox.

About u‑blox
u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil

Find us on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter @ublox and YouTube

u‑blox contact:
Patty Felts
Principal Product Manager, Product Center Cellular at u‑blox
Phone +1 858 847 9611
patty.felts@u-blox.com

u‑blox AG
Zürcherstrasse 68
8800 Thalwil
Switzerland
Phone +41 44 722 74 44
Fax +41 44 722 74 47
info@u-blox.com
www.u‑blox.com

u‑blox M8 GNSS

LynQ’s network-free location tracker featuring u‑blox M8 GNSS receiver goes into pre-sale

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Courtesy of u-blox : LynQ’s network-free location tracker featuring u‑blox M8 GNSS receiver goes into pre-sale

The easy‑to‑use device helps groups stick together indoors, outdoors, anywhere.  

Thalwil, Switzerland – September 20, 2018 – u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies, announced their collaboration with USA‑based LynQ on a tracking device that lets groups of users locate each other. LynQ, which surpassed its fundraising target on the Indiegogo crowdfunding platform, raising over US$ 1.5million, is now on pre‑sale. Featured in the device is the u‑blox CAM‑M8Q GNSS receiver. It is a GPS/GLONASS/BeiDou positioning module with an embedded antenna. With its slim size of 9.6 x 14 x 1.95 mm, it is easy to integrate it into handheld devices.

LynQ’s crowdfunding success shows the extent to which the company’s founders uncovered an unmet demand on the market. While smartphone‑based solutions to locate friends and family, for instance in a crowd, abound, they are limited by the availability of mobile network reception. The location tracker developed by LynQ gets by without cellphones, networks, apps, or monthly fees. By simply syncing up the devices before heading out, group members can find each other within an up to five‑mile radius and link up again.

The first generation of the weather‑proof tracker uses long‑range, low power radio frequencies to connect devices. Up to 12 people can join a group, split up, and use the only button on the clip‑on device to toggle through the group members and find out in which direction and how far away each one is. LynQ’s location tracker helps friends regroup outdoors or at crowded events, parents keep an eye on their children, and caregivers watch over the safety of people with special needs, elderly family members, or loved ones suffering from diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Dependability is central to the LynQ’s location tracker, which has been field‑tested on numerous continents and in most topographies and use cases. “We found the u‑blox CAM‑M8Q to be the best solution for us to achieve the requirements our use cases demand,” says Drew Lauter, Chief Operating Officer at LynQ. “We’re extremely price sensitive, yet we need a highly dependable GPS module. u‑blox worked closely with us to deliver that.”

For u‑blox, accompanying LynQ in the development of its product has been an exciting adventure, says Suresh Ram, President of u‑blox America. “We’re thrilled to see how well their idea has been received by the public and look forward to our continued collaboration in the future.”

To learn more, watch the video.

About u‑blox
u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

Find us on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter @ublox and YouTube

u‑blox contact:
Natacha Seitz
PR Manager
Tel +41 44 722 73 88
natacha.seitz@u-blox.com

About LynQ
Founded in October of 2014, Lynq is an alumnus of HAX, the world’s first and largest hardware startup accelerator based in Brooklyn, New York.

For more information, please visit lynqme.com or contact media@lynqme.com.

LynQ contact:
Drew Lauter
Chief Operating Officer
media@lynqme.com

Industrial Markets

Industrial Markets: Integration is at the heart of efficiency gains

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Courtesy of u-blox : Industrial Markets

In industrial markets, we see such varying applications as manufacturing, processing, instrumentation, energy management, survey monitoring, asset tracking, condition monitoring, remote control and monitoring systems. The u‑blox products are designed and developed for such applications, saving both time and money for improved efficacy and operation. We enable companies just like yours to truly succeed in the digital age, where most of your operations are likely to occur “online.”

Remote monitoring & control

The ability to consistently monitor and control operations in real‑time is of significant benefit to industrial applications, allowing you to gain in speed, accuracy and efficiency. For instance, let’s say you own a remote wind turbine park. Traditionally, you would regularly have to visit the park to monitor the status of a wind turbine. Should you instead embed cellular connectivity, you can remotely monitor the status of each wind turbine and control them individually. This reduces time and money spent on maintenance and allows you to send workers to the location only when they are truly needed. You can also monitor efficiency and production rates via cloud‑based, connected analytics tools.

Asset tracking

For full operational visibility and decision making through the industrial value chain, it is crucial to be able to accurately track assets and personnel. For instance, let’s say you own a warehouse. Imagine the possibilities if you could track a pallet real‑time as it arrived by truck, proceeded on a conveyor belt, to when it was picked up by an unmanned forklift and then put in storage. The asset is tracked from arrival to storage, using indoor short range radio connectivity beacons on its path. Outdoors, the asset is tracked via GNSS technology providing location and time stamps with the data transmitted via cellular connectivity.

Connected tools

With connected tools, operators would only use the data and resources they actually need. For instance, let’s say you own an automotive assembly plant. The operator interacts with the vehicle with tools that are wirelessly connected to the network, receiving and sending data needed only for this particular vehicle. Thereby, you minimize time and resources spent, while making the operator more flexible and efficient at the same time.

Industrial IoT/ Industry 4.0

Truly unique in its ability to provide efficient, flexible, and critical control over operations and information, Industrial IoT (IIoT) allows for the full‑scale connectivity your company needs for its everyday operations. You can track and connect every step of the process, from industrial sensors to transfer of information to control systems and data analysis.
For instance, let’s say you own a plant that operates based on IIoT technology. When a truck arrives with supplies, the truck and its goods are tracked with both position and time. Data from sensors within the truck can be communicated via short range wireless links. Data is sent and received over cellular radio networks to enter goods into the local inventory system as the goods are moved onto the production line. The IIoT ecosystem described is built up by a variety of environmental sensors (temperature, pressure, humidity, etc.) that connect wirelessly to a programmable logic controller (PLC) and then via Ethernet to a SCADA system and control room. The final result is full insight into your entire operations.

u-blox LTE Cat 1 module

Vodafone grants global certification to u-blox LTE Cat 1 module with 2G fallback

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Courtesy of u-blox : LTE Cat 1 module with 2G fallback

u‑blox’s single and multi‑mode LTE Cat 1 LARA‑R211 module features VoLTE and positioning capability.

Thalwil, Switzerland – July 24, 2018 – u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies, today announced that Vodafone certified its multi‑mode LTE Cat 1 LARA‑R211 module with 2G fallback for global usage over its mobile networks.

LARA‑R211 offers data connectivity as well as VoLTE (Voice over LTE) and circuit switched voice service over 2G (CSFB). It is therefore well suited for a variety of mobile and stationary applications that require robust data connectivity and voice service, such as alarm panels, home automation, and asset tracking. The module also provides a 2G fallback, ensuring connectivity and seamless operation in cases where LTE coverage is not yet available.

Thanks to u‑blox’s proprietary cellular positioning technology CellLocate®, LARA‑R211 provides cost‑effective location estimation based on information from surrounding cellular base stations. This location capability enables easy integration of the module for instance in the case of asset tracking applications.

“The u‑blox LARA‑R211 is now part of Vodafone’s global mobile connectivity solution. This certification guarantees seamless operation and interoperability for both data and voice transmission, thereby ensuring that customers receive the best possible service when integrating LARA‑R211 into their devices and running them over Vodafone’s global mobile networks,” said Drazen Drinic, Principal Product Strategy, Product Center Cellular at u‑blox.

“Our aim at Vodafone is to provide the best quality to our end customers while using our network. To ideally ensure this, a central component is the interworking of the module and our network. With our cellular module certification services, we therefore validate modules, such like the u‑blox LARA‑R211, against the global Vodafone network requirements using our test facilities in the Vodafone Innovation Park. In this way both customers on Vodafone and u‑blox side benefit from the service which provides them with the perfect network experience,” said Britta Rudolphi, Head of Technology Innovation & Business Development at Vodafone.

LARA‑R211 is available for purchase.

About u‑blox
u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

Find us on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter @ublox and YouTube

u‑blox contact:
Natacha Seitz
PR Manager
Mobile +41 76 436 0788
natacha.seitz@u-blox.com

u‑blox AG
Zürcherstrasse 68
8800 Thalwil
Switzerland
Phone +41 44 722 74 44
Fax +41 44 722 74 47
info@u-blox.com
www.u‑blox.com

Arduino introduces new boards featuring u‑blox wireless technology

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Courtesy of u-blox

Thalwil, Switzerland – May 24, 2018 – u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies, and Arduino, providers of the world’s leading open‑source hardware and software ecosystem, introduced four new boards to their MKR family, delivering enhanced wireless connectivity options for IoT applications. Previously Arduino adopted u‑blox for their MKR GSM 1400, now one of the most popular boards of the MKR family for its unique characteristics and robustness.

Arduino introduced the MKR family and form factor to address IoT use cases by focusing on a standard blue print including a hardware crypto chip for enhanced security, a LiPo charger for power management, and an ARM Cortex M0 microcontroller. The MKR family offers a wide range of connectivity options, from low power long range to more traditional options, to satisfy the most stringent user requirements for IoT applications.

One of the boards released is the MKR WIFI 1010, a Cortex M0‑based board that provides Wi‑Fi connectivity to IoT projects. With a highly optimized design it integrates the globally certified u‑blox NINA‑W102 stand‑alone multi‑radio module delivering Wi‑Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. Featuring an open CPU, the NINA‑W102 allows Arduino to run their own application right on the module, offloading communication tasks from the user‑programmable Arduino CPU and increasing the board’s power efficiency.

Two more new boards incorporate the u‑blox NINA‑W102. The MKR Vidor 4000 is the first‑ever Arduino board featuring an FPGA (field‑programmable gate array) chip coupled with an innovative development environment, which aims to democratize and radically simplify access to the world of FPGAs. The Uno WiFi Rev 2 aims at making it even easier to deploy products that need Wi‑Fi connectivity.

In addition Arduino expanded its cellular offering with the MKR NB 1500, which hosts a u‑blox SARA‑R410M cellular module providing LTE Cat NB1 and LTE‑M cellular connectivity that is pre‑certified for global use. Also equipped with an ARM Cortex M0 microcontroller, the MKR NB 1500 is fully geared towards IoT applications with low demands for bandwidth and data volumes and is optimized for ultra‑low power consumption, enabling highly efficient battery‑powered applications.

The new boards feature industrial grade communication modules with an extended temperature range and superior guaranteed reliability, making them attractive to professional users seeking to develop small volume products or quickly prototype new concepts and ideas.

“In order to grow a full portfolio of connectivity boards for professional IoT use cases, we needed to find a supplier offering a superior quality and easy‑to‑use, globally certified range of modules in line with our brand strategy. Their roadmap and the compatibility between the products offered by u‑blox sealed the deal for us,” says Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino. “We also liked their approach to the educational market, that is in line with our vision.”

“For us at u‑blox, working with Arduino helps us extend our reach to a broad community of young engineers and tech enthusiasts, who now have an easy and affordable way to access our technology,” says Michael Ammann, Senior Principal Market Development at u­‑blox. “We look forward to further expanding our partnership in the future.”

Purchase the new MKR boards on the Arduino website.

About u‑blox
u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA. Find us on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter @ublox and YouTube

About Arduino
Arduino is the world’s leading open‑source hardware and software ecosystem. The Company offers a range of software tools, hardware platforms and documentation enabling almost anybody to be creative with technology. Arduino is a popular tool for IoT product development as well as one of the most successful tools for STEM/STEAM education. Hundreds of thousands of designers, engineers, students, developers and makers around the world are using Arduino to innovate in music, games, toys, smart homes, farming, autonomous vehicles, and more.

u‑blox media contact:
Natacha Seitz
PR Manager
Mobile +41 76 436 0788
natacha.seitz@u-blox.com

u‑blox AG
Zürcherstrasse 68
8800 Thalwil
Switzerland
info@u-blox.com
www.u‑blox.com

Arduino media contact:
Kelly Brieger, KBPR
Mobile 650‑704‑1748
Kelly@kbpr.net
www.arduino.cc

Kudelski Group and u-blox to collaborate on secure connectivity for consumer, automotive and industrial IoT

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Courtesy of u-blox : Kudelski Group and u-blox to collaborate on secure connectivity for consumer, automotive and industrial IoT

CHESEAUX‑SUR‑LAUSANNE, Switzerland and THALWIL, Switzerland, May 22, 2018 – The Kudelski Group (SIX:KUD.S), the world leader in digital security, and u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a global leader in positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial and consumer markets, today announced the signing of an MOU to bring premium‑grade security to IoT devices.

Kudelski and u‑blox agreed to collaborate toward integrating the Kudelski IoT Security Suite into multiple u‑blox product lines, thereby providing field‑proven security technologies to empower businesses to sustainably secure their digital transformation, and optional services enabling further business growth.

“Digital transformation and IoT projects can only achieve their objectives if security is designed from the start, and a long‑term, security lifecycle management approach is taken,” said Jean‑Michel Puiatti, senior vice president of IoT at Kudelski “u‑blox has pioneered positioning, connectivity and short range communications solutions that underpin the connected Internet of Things. By establishing this relationship with them, we will work together to enable business owners to securely drive new business models, features, efficiency and data analytics.”

Integration of Kudelski technology into u‑blox modules will enable premium device protection and security lifecycle management including secure firmware over the air upgrades (FOTA), but also secure communications and application data protection.

“u‑blox provides premium products to its customers and security is no exception,” said Andreas Thiel, u‑blox Co‑Founder and Executive Director Cellular Product Center. “Combining our leading wireless communication technology with Kudelski IoT Security Suite provides our customers with the benefits of both companies’ expertise and experience in dealing with high‑volume, security‑sensitive environments. We consider security as fundamental to the success of our customers’ business and are delighted to have an experienced and proven security partner such as Kudelski when building our security services.”

The Kudelski IoT Security Suite is a comprehensive set of  solutions and services based on 30 years of Kudelski Group innovation in protecting digital TV content on more than 400 million devices, as well as its strong expertise in cybersecurity. It makes IoT security easy to embrace by providing secure control and protection of the key resources of any IoT solution: data, network, device, features, communications and applications. By leveraging state‑of‑the‑art security hardware designed by Swiss engineers and its unique heritage in both pay TV and cybersecurity, Kudelski Group is uniquely positioned to provide companies with design, implementation and long‑term security lifecycle management of their connected business models across a variety of industries.

Swiss born 20 years ago, u‑blox is now a global company well on the way to becoming the leading industry quality supplier of communications and positioning components and solutions for the Internet of Things. As the IoT takes hold across the automotive, industrial and customer markets, the importance of dependable connectivity and location‑awareness is at an all‑time high – and continuing to grow. u‑blox’s comprehensive portfolio of high quality chips and modules therefore help contributing to a more secure and sustainable connected world.

For more information about Kudelski Group IoT Solutions and Services, please visit https://iot.nagra.com.

About the Kudelski Group
The Kudelski Group (SIX: KUD.S) is a world leader in digital security and a provider of end‑to‑end convergent media solutions to the digital entertainment industry, including services and applications requiring access control and rights management to secure the revenue in digital television, internet, mobile and interactive applications. The Group also offers cybersecurity solutions and services focused on helping companies assess risks and vulnerabilities and protect their data and systems. It also supplies integrated solutions to manage access control of people and vehicles to sites and events. The Kudelski Group is headquartered in Cheseaux‑sur‑Lausanne, Switzerland and Phoenix (AZ), USA. For more information, please visit www.nagra.com

About u‑blox
u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA. www.u‑blox.com

Media Contacts
Christopher Schouten
Kudelski Group – IoT Security
Head of Marketing
+41 79 560 43 75
christopher.schouten@nagra.com

Cédric Alber
Kudelski Group
Senior Manager Media Relations
+41 79 647 61 71
+1 (415) 962 5005
cedric.alber@nagra.com

Natacha Seitz
u‑blox
PR Manager
+41 76 436 07 88
natacha.seitz@u-blox.com

u-blox ZED-F9P

u‑blox announces the first high precision GNSS module based on u‑blox F9 technology

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Courtesy of u-blox

The u‑blox ZED‑F9P multi‑band receiver delivers centimeter‑level accuracy in seconds.

Thalwil, Switzerland – April 26, 2018 – u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies, today announced the ZED‑F9P multi‑band GNSS module with integrated multi‑band Real Time Kinematics (RTK) technology for machine control, ground robotic vehicles, and high precision unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) applications. The ZED‑F9P measures only 22 x 17 x 2.4 mm and uses technology from the recently announced u‑blox F9 platform to deliver robust high‑precision positioning performance in seconds.

The u‑blox ZED‑F9P is the first mass market multi‑band receiver to concurrently use GNSS signals from all four GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou). Combining GNSS signals from multiple frequency bands (L1/L2/L5) and RTK technology lets the ZED‑F9P achieve centimeter‑level accuracy in seconds. And receiving more satellite signals at any given time maximizes the availability of centimeter‑level accuracy even in challenging environments such as in cities.

With its high update rate, the ZED‑F9P is ideal for highly dynamic applications such as UAVs. Featuring on‑chip integration of advanced multi‑band RTK algorithms, it requires no additional hardware or third party RTK libraries. Ready to use on delivery and easy to integrate, it helps product developers quickly bring their ideas to the market.

ZED‑F9P is fully geared to clearing the three main hurdles that have kept centimeter‑level positioning accuracy from breaking into mass market applications: cost, size, and power consumption. Significantly smaller and more energy efficient than existing solutions, and as a cost efficient alternative, the ZED‑F9P will enable new high precision positioning applications for the mass market.

“The new ZED‑F9P GNSS receiver builds on the success of our NEO‑M8P high precision GNSS module, but takes performance to another level by leveraging all the available GNSS signals,” says Mårten Ström, Senior Principal Product Management, Product Center Positioning at u‑blox. “By making robust and affordable high precision positioning technology more accessible, we hope to fuel innovation and enable a new generation of high precision GNSS navigation applications.”

Engineering samples will be available from end of July 2018.

About u‑blox
u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

Find us on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter @ublox and YouTube

u‑blox media contact:
Natacha Seitz
PR Manager
Mobile +41 76 436 0788
natacha.seitz@u-blox.com

u‑blox AG
Zürcherstrasse 68
8800 Thalwil
Switzerland
Phone +41 44 722 74 44
Fax +41 44 722 74 47
info@u-blox.com
www.u‑blox.com

u-blox announces smallest industrial Bluetooth 5 module

u-blox announces smallest industrial Bluetooth 5 module

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Read full article on u-blox website here: u-blox announces smallest industrial Bluetooth 5 module

Ultra‑compact and designed for tough environments, ANNA‑B1 is fully tailored to applications for the Industrial Internet of Things.

ANNA‑B1

Thalwil, Switzerland – March 13, 2018 – u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a global leader in wireless and positioning technologies, has announced the new ANNA‑B1 Bluetooth 5 module for industrial applications. Its ultra‑compact module design and industrial operating temperature range make it ideal for wide‑ranging applications in size‑constrained designs requiring high speed Bluetooth connectivity. ANNA‑B1 comes certified for select markets off the shelf.

Essentially, the new ANNA‑B1 is a miniaturized variant of the meanwhile well‑established u‑blox NINA‑B1 Bluetooth low energy module, packed as a System‑in‑Package (SiP) design into a tiny 6.5 by 6.5 millimeter footprint, just 1.2 millimeters thin.

ANNA‑B1 includes an Arm® Cortex®-M4 microcontroller unit with a floating point unit, flash and RAM. The open CPU option provides full access to the module’s microcontroller so that custom applications can be embedded into the module. Alternatively, product developers can speed up time to market by leveraging the full force of pre‑flashed u‑blox connectivity software. Fully tested and verified, and supporting many IoT applications, u‑blox connectivity software includes a GATT client and server for connectivity attributes, Serial Port Service, simultaneous peripheral and central role, and NFC technology for easy pairing to other Bluetooth low energy devices. ANNA‑B1 has a built in antenna, but also allows for external antenna designs.

Typical applications for the ANNA‑B1 Bluetooth module are small devices such as power tools, industrial and medical sensor products, wearables, and point of sale devices that require Bluetooth 5 connectivity, either individually or as part of a mesh network. Medical and sports wearables and telematics aftermarket products including insurance boxes will benefit from the ANNA‑B1’s small footprint.

“With the addition of ANNA‑B1 to our product portfolio, we are pleased to offer product designers an extended palette of products that they can chose from to meet their specific needs,” says Len Albertsson, Principal Product Manager, Product Strategy Short Range Radio at u‑blox. “In an industry where reductions in size and weight often come at the expense of product features, we’re very excited by how well our new ANNA‑B1 module ranks alongside the NINA‑B1 module.”

Engineering samples of the ANNA‑B1 will be available in Q2 2018.

About u‑blox
u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

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u‑blox contact:
Natacha Seitz
PR Manager
Mobile +41 76 436 0788
natacha.seitz@u-blox.com

u‑blox AG
Zürcherstrasse 68
8800 Thalwil
Switzerland
Phone +41 44 722 74 44
Fax +41 44 722 74 47
info@u-blox.com
www.u‑blox.com

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Aerosense develops surveying solution with drone using u-blox high performance positioning technology

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Courtesy of u‑blox

Thalwil, Switzerland – March 8, 2018 – u‑blox (SIX:UBXN), a global leader in wireless and positioning modules and chips, announced today that Japan‑based Aerosense Inc. has commercialized its AEROBO® Marker solution for drone surveying using the u‑blox NEO‑M8T timing module. Conceived to compute absolute time to within 20 nanoseconds using incoming GNSS signals, the NEO‑M8T lets users access RAW GNSS data output, making it attractive for positioning applications that rely on post‑processing GNSS data to enhance location accuracy.

Aerosense’s surveying solution is designed to reduce the time spent surveying construction sites. By combining ground markers equipped with a GNSS receiver with surveying drones and cloud‑based data processing, they have converted huge workloads into a user friendly application for anyone.

The surveying operation on the site involves setting up ground markers fitted with u‑blox NEO‑M8T high performance GNSS receivers. The smart ground markers send the GNSS data they receive to the cloud, where it is post‑processed using a static surveying algorithm to achieve high accuracy.

AEROBO’s solution can transform high‑resolution drone images into a survey‑accurate map by using the absolute geographic coordinates of specific points on the surveyed terrain. Images gathered by overflying the terrain with the drones are combined to create centimeter‑precise outputs, including orthomap views, 3D models, and point clouds.

The challenge that engineers at Aerosense faced while developing their solution was achieving sufficiently high position accuracy. “We found a robust solution to the accuracy challenge by using the u‑blox NEO‑M8T high performance positioning module,” says Mr. Satoru Shimizu, Project Leader of AEROBO Marker, Technology Development Dept. at Aerosense Inc.

About u‑blox
u‑blox (SIX:UBXN) is a global provider of leading positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Their solutions let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. With a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services, u‑blox is uniquely positioned to empower its customers to develop innovative solutions for the Internet of Things, quickly and cost‑effectively. With headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland, the company is globally present with offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA. (www.u‑blox.com)

Find us on Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn, Twitter @ublox and YouTube

About Aerosense Inc.
Aerosense Inc. is a joint venture company between Sony Corporation and ZMP Inc. It is making full use of Sony’s technologies in camera, sensors and communication networks along with ZMP’s robot technology and business experience. We provide an automated industrial drone solution. In particular the field of Survey, We offer all cloud platforms to handle drone, and GPS built‑in marker. So it is possible to operate with high accuracy and safe. We also have unique technologies such as Tethered drone or VTOL drone.
(www.aerosense.co.jp)

u‑blox contact: 
Natacha Seitz
PR Manager
Mobile +41 76 436 0788
natacha.seitz@u-blox.com

u‑blox AG
Zürcherstrasse 68
8800 Thalwil Switzerland
Phone +41 44 722 74 44
Fax +41 44 722 74 47
info@u-blox.com
www.u‑blox.com