Multi-GNSS receivers concurrently track three constellations

26th January 2016

u-blox

Nat Bowers

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Datasheet

Now supporting Galileo, in addition to GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS and SBAS, u-blox has released a new firmware, FW 3.01, for its M8 concurrent multi-GNSS platform. It can track up to three constellations concurrently and makes use of all SBAS and QZSS augmentation systems at the same time.

With Galileo fully deployed, the European positioning system will provide access to 24 additional satellites, thereby significantly increasing availability of GNSS signals and further improving position accuracy in challenging urban environments. u-blox M8 supports Galileo-based eCall, the European emergency call system, which will be required in new vehicles from 2018. u-blox M8 is also compliant with ERA-GLONASS, eCall's Russian equivalent.

u-blox M8, with the addition of FW 3.01, now boosts the BeiDou acquisition sensitivity and adds support to the Indian GAGAN augmentation system.

u-blox M8 chips and modules are able to operate reliably in difficult environmental conditions as well as in a security attack scenario. Because a growing number of wireless systems rely on GNSS positioning, the threat of attacks, such as diversion of drones or hijacking of car electronics, has become very real. Security mechanisms are now embedded in FW 3.01, the result of years of intense research at u-blox R&D labs. An anti-spoofing feature detects fake GNSS signals and a message integrity protection system prevents 'man-in-the-middle' attacks. Yet another security function detects and suppresses jamming. Since all this functionality is already built into u-blox M8 FW 3.01, these security mechanisms are a lot more effective than an external system implementation.

Automotive-grade u-blox M8 products operate over an extended temperature range from -40 to +105°C and are AEC-Q100 Grade 2 qualified. The extended temperature range allows more flexibility in vehicle integration, for instance by integrating a u-blox M8 GNSS receiver into a roof-top antenna where temperatures can reach 105°C. Another feature of FW 3.01 is the 10% power reduction compared to earlier firmware versions of the M8.

Uffe Pless, Product Manager Positioning, u-blox, commented: "u-blox has reached another milestone to provide customers with performance they need for advanced applications. u-blox is at the forefront of ensuring GNSS security and remains the supplier of choice for professional and automotive GNSS implementations."

Firmware to upgrade existing flash-ROM based u-blox M8 products can be downloaded from the u-blox website. Products with FW 3.01 in ROM will become available in Q2 2016.