Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
October 16, 2025
u-blox Launches Upgradeable GNSS with 50% Lower Power Consumption
TLDR
- u-blox's new GNSS products with firmware upgradeability provide a competitive edge through future-proof technology and 50% lower power consumption for longer-lasting IoT devices.
- The UBX-M10150-KB chip and MAX-M10N module use SPG 5.30 firmware with LEAP technology, achieving 8 mW power consumption while maintaining sub-meter positioning accuracy.
- These energy-efficient tracking devices improve safety and monitoring for vehicles, people, pets, and livestock, creating more reliable location services for everyday life.
- u-blox introduces the first M10-platform GNSS hardware with upgradeable firmware, featuring LEAP technology that cuts power use in half while maintaining precision.
Impact - Why it Matters
This development matters because it addresses two critical challenges in the rapidly growing IoT market: battery life limitations and the need for future-proof hardware. As more devices become connected and location-aware - from smart wearables to agricultural sensors and vehicle tracking systems - power efficiency becomes paramount. The 50% reduction in power consumption means longer battery life for tracking devices, reducing maintenance costs and improving reliability. The firmware upgradeability feature is particularly significant as it allows devices to adapt to evolving positioning standards and security requirements without hardware replacement, extending product lifecycles and reducing electronic waste. For consumers, this translates to more reliable tracking devices for pets, vehicles, and personal safety applications that last longer between charges. For businesses, it means more efficient asset tracking and monitoring solutions with lower total cost of ownership.
Summary
Swiss technology leader u-blox has launched groundbreaking GNSS products featuring firmware upgradeability for the first time in their M10 platform. The UBX-M10150-KB chip and MAX-M10N module represent a significant advancement in positioning technology, running the new SPG 5.30 firmware that introduces Low Energy Accurate Positioning (LEAP) technology. This innovative LEAP mode reduces power consumption by up to 50% while maintaining superior positioning accuracy, making it ideal for battery-powered IoT devices. The chip achieves ultra-low power consumption of just 8 mW in continuous tracking, extending battery life dramatically for applications including vehicle tracking, people and pet monitoring, livestock management, and wearable devices.
The new products extend beyond previous ROM-based offerings with enhanced technical capabilities through the SPG 5.30 firmware. Beyond the revolutionary LEAP technology that replaces cyclic tracking mode, the firmware supports RTCM corrections input enabling positioning accuracy down to sub-meter levels. Additional features include data logging and geo-fencing functions that allow more autonomous tracking directly on the device. Both products include lifetime access to AssistNow Predictive Orbits and Live Orbits services, which accelerate start-up times and improve positioning performance in challenging signal environments. For developers, u-blox provides the EVK-M102 evaluation kit and u-center 2 software to streamline the design and integration process.
The firmware upgradeability represents a paradigm shift in GNSS technology, providing customers with a future-proof solution that can benefit from ongoing performance enhancements throughout the product lifecycle. This means devices built with these components can receive software updates that deliver new functionality and improved performance without requiring hardware replacement. The products are currently available as engineering samples with full availability scheduled for October 2025, positioning u-blox to capture significant market share in the rapidly expanding IoT tracking and monitoring sectors where battery life and positioning accuracy are critical success factors.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, u-blox Launches Upgradeable GNSS with 50% Lower Power Consumption
