The industry of asset tracking is a lucrative one. Productivity is increased, security is increased, and costs are reduced when the location of valuable goods can be determined with high precision at any time. However, high-quality Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers can be challenging to design and implement, costly, and power demanding; thus, asset tracking has been limited to high-value products.
Modular GNSS solutions are easy to install since they are created to broaden the use of asset tracking in various contexts. They are small, inexpensive, and efficient. The power can be modulated if desired. Setting your device to use less energy will help the battery last longer.
The Real-Time Positioning System (RTPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) components are covered here. Learn how to configure your modules for optimal sensitivity, fast satellite acquisition, and low power consumption.
The industry of asset tracking is a lucrative one. Productivity is increased, security is increased, and costs are reduced when the location of valuable goods can be determined with high precision at any time.However, high-quality Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers can be challenging to design and implement, costly, and power demanding; thus, asset tracking has been limited to high-value products.
GNSS module solutions are easy to install since they are created to broaden the use of asset tracking in various contexts. They are small, inexpensive, and efficient. The power can be modulated if desired. Setting your device to use less energy will help the battery last longer.
The Real-Time Positioning System (RTPS) and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) components are covered here. Learn how to configure your modules for optimal sensitivity, fast satellite acquisition, and low power consumption.
GNSS RF receivers can pinpoint outdoor, mobile assets within a few metres using GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo. To function, GNSS must acquire navigation signals from at least three satellites in orbit. Synchronizing satellites and receivers can determine how long a call takes to travel.
The receiver's exact location is calculated by finding the point where satellite signal spheres cross Earth's globe. Each satellite broadcasts its status, ephemeris, and identity over low-power RF waves.
Building a GNSS is difficult. An experienced developer can use this strategy to increase a product's cost, size, and performance, while beginners should use a pre-made module. Prefabricated modules are easily integrated into larger systems.
Engineers can save time and effort when designing complex RF circuits using modules. Even better, modern improvements to GNSS modules have made possible the kinds of applications that were previously impossible due to the limitations of older GNSS technologies. Wearables, smartwatches, and low-value asset tracking are all excellent examples. When choosing a module, the designer should keep in mind the following factors:
● TTFF:
It is how long the module needs to acquire satellite signals and calculate its location during the first activation. Some modules predict satellite orbits a month in advance to reduce time-to-first-fix (TTFF) from a cold start.
● Energy utilization:
Battery life for asset tracking and similar solutions is often relatively short. Reduced energy needs mean longer battery life.
● Electromagnetic frequency (RF) sensitivity:
Cold start detection of relatively weak GNSS signals for asset tracking requires high sensitivity. Once a satellite is acquired, and the receiver is tracking it, the sensitivity goes up.
● Freedom from RF interference:
Depending on the host system, GNSS can use frequencies close to those reserved for GSM, from 1176.45 to 1602.0 MHz. Reliable reception of the GNSS signals for asset tracking relies on effective GSM spectrum rejection.
Some asset tracking modules have an antenna already attached, while others require the programmer to source their own. A built-in antenna eliminates a design requirement but is a generic answer.
Before, they explained that the CPU commonly uses the NMEA protocol to talk to the GNSS module. The protocol specifies three different kinds of input and output: commands, writing, and reading.
Each input/output receives a response from the modules. The module's operational state can be modified with controls. As the name suggests, Writing messages alter the module's configuration, while Read messages provide insight into the current setting.
Maintaining reliable power to GNSS units is essential
In asset tracking, GNSS modules need a clean, steady power source to detect weak RF signals with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Peak noise should be less than 20 mV to minimize problems. Some asset-tracking GNSS modules contain an inbuilt regulator, although it's recommended to use an external one. Assume design priorities are efficiency and battery longevity. To reduce noise at the GNSS module's voltage input, use a low dropout (LDO) linear regulator with a switch-mode regulator.
If efficiency is not a factor, an LDO regulator is cheaper and produces cleaner output than a switching regulator. Even with a regulator, filtering the input voltage is an intelligent design—one input powers the GNSS module's RAM and clock during a power outage. The host microprocessor manages the GNSS module to maximize runtime.
The availability and precision of GNSS for accurate location monitoring have improved thanks to the expansion of worldwide satellite-based navigation systems. GNSS modules offer a pre-assembled, tried-and-true answer to the problem of asset tracking, making the design of GNSS-enabled systems much more accessible.
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