Module provides 10m location accuracy and LTE-M for IoT comms

SARA-R520M10 is the super-set device, combining on-board an LTE-M and NB-IoT IC (v2 of UBX-R5) with the company’s M10 GNSS receiver IC, allowing concurrent communication and location-finding in a 16 x 26 x 2.2mm package.

Cellular coverage is global, and the module supports LTE Cat M1 and LTE Cat NB2 technologies “based on a set of 3GPP Rel. 14 and Rel. 15 features that are relevant for IoT applications”, according to the company.

SARA-R520 is a variant that keeps the package but deletes the M10 IC – with location duties time-shared on the UBX-R5 using ‘Assisted GPS’, where cellular network data is used to speed GNSS acquisition – u-blox is branding its flavour ‘SpotNow’.

“SpotNow is a positioning feature unique to u-blox, which provides position data with a 10m accuracy within a couple of seconds,” said u-blox. “It is meant for occasional tracking applications such as recycling waste dumpsters, elderly trackers or cleaning machines.”

Lastly, position can be estimated without using GNSS at all, but instead using LTE cell data.

To save space, the hardware within the more limited (M10-less) SARA-R520 is also available in LEXI-R520, which comes in a 16 x 16 x 2mm package.

In all cases, an internal manager automatically adjust performance against power consumption, “for example when a connection is lost and needs to be re-established”, said u-blox.

To remove the need for an external microcontroller, user code can be run on the internal module processor.

Operation is over 3 to 4.5V (3.8V nominal) and -40 to +85°C. Qualification is according to AEC-Q104.

Samples are available now, with volume production scheduled for Q3 2024.

Product pages: SARA-R520M10 and LEXI-R520