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This section provides an overview for gnss modules as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 18 gnss module manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked gnss module companies as of December, 2024: 1.Unicore Communications,Inc., 2.Sierra Wireless, 3.Avnet, Inc..
Table of Contents
A GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) module is a module that uses signals from satellites to obtain positional information and other data.
It refers to the GPS of the United States, GLONASS of Russia, Galileo of the EU, BeiDou satellite positioning system of China, and QZSS of Japan, which are representative systems for determining positional information.
By using signals sent from various satellite systems, it is possible to measure position information with higher precision.
GNSS modules are used to measure a vehicle's position, speed, and direction of travel information, as well as to acquire location information for mapping functions on smartphones. Other applications include tablets, smart watches, laptops, medical applications, smart agriculture, precision location, smart trains, robotics, autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, logistics and asset tracking, drones, agricultural machinery, and construction heavy equipment.
When selecting a GNSS module, considerations should include the size and cost of the module and the size of the signal received from the antenna and processed. Other considerations include shock strength against dropping for smartphones and tablet PCs, and heat and vibration strength for GNSS modules for automotive applications.
The position and time information sent from multiple satellites is received by the signal receiver. The distance between the satellite and GNSS is determined from the received time, the time the signal was transmitted, and the speed at which the signal is traveling.
On the other hand, signals transmitted by satellites are often weak, and various obstacles, environmental noise, and interference in the reception environment can hinder signal reception, making it challenging to determine accurate location information. Therefore, there are products that implement advanced signal processing to determine accurate position information.
The components of a GNSS module include a receiver, a low-noise amplifier, and a GNSS receiver. Weak signals emitted from satellites are received by the signal receiver and amplified by a low-noise amplifier.
The amplified signals are processed by the GNSS receiver to calculate position information. The position information is then sent to the device connected to the GNSS module for use in position-based applications.
Although GNSS modules can provide high-quality position measurements by catching signals from satellites, errors can occur due to factors such as satellite orbit, satellite clock, ionospheric delay, tropospheric delay, receiver (antenna), multipath, etc. The reasons for errors caused by each factor are described below:
Satellite Orbit Factor
Positioning calculations are performed by receiving ephemeris data (satellite orbit data) and almanac data (satellite orbit history) from satellites. Ephemeris data is updated every two hours and Almanac data every six days. Therefore, during the periods when both data are not updated, the position must be estimated based on the most recent data, which may lead to errors.
Satellite Clock Factor
Data from satellites contains satellite clock information. There is a lag time between when the satellite clock information is transmitted from the satellite and when it is caught by the receiver.
Ionospheric Delay Factor
The ionosphere is a region between 50km and 1,000km above the Earth's surface where solar activity causes variations in the type and density of gases. When radio waves from satellites pass through the ionosphere, the refraction of light causes a delay in the transmission speed.
Tropospheric Delay Factor
The troposphere is the area between the ground and 11km above the ground. When radio waves from satellites pass through the troposphere, as in the ionosphere, the refraction of light causes a delay in the transmission speed.
Receiver (Antenna) Factor
After the satellite information is received by the antenna, various factors such as cable, circuit, and radio delays, as well as the speed of positioning calculation operations and memory access speed, can affect the error.
Multipath Factor
Multipath refers to radio waves that bounce off reflective objects and thus are delayed behind directly incident radio waves. In the case of radio waves from satellites, there are cases where the output of multipath radio waves is larger than that of directly incident radio waves. In this case, the positioning calculation may be performed using the multipath data with higher output.
GNSS module positioning methods can be broadly classified into two types: single positioning and relative positioning.
Independent Positioning
In stand-alone positioning, signals from four or more satellites are received by a single receiver to perform positioning. The accuracy of single-satellite positioning is limited to 10 to 20 meters due to satellite clock factor errors.
Relative Positioning
Relative positioning performs simultaneous, independent positioning at the reference point for which precise coordinates are required and at the point to be measured. In this case, information from multiple receivers is used, enabling higher quality positioning than with stand-alone positioning.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Unicore is a high-tech company engaged in a highly sophisticated GNSS IC design, high-performance satellite positioning and multi-sensor fusion algorithm development. By combining top-tier talent, modern management practices, latest technologies and convenient localization services, Unicore provides advanced time-space transmission products and services. The accuracy of Unicore GNSS receivers ranges all the way from meter, to sub-meter and centimeter, down to the millimeter level. Applications include Continuously Operating Reference System (CORS) stations, surveying & mapping equipment, precision agriculture machinery, intelligent driving, driving tests and training, unmanned vehicles, mechanical control, autonomous vehicle navigation, precision timing, IoT, wearable devices and so on.
Trimble, a company founded in 1978 and headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, is an industrial technology manufacturer that provides solutions to enable professionals to improve their work processes. The company offers a wide range of products and services, including guidance and steering, agronomic solutions, displays, and more. It also offers satellite navigation systems, hardware, and software. Its software enables surveyors to transform field data from GNSS receivers, total stations, laser scanners, mobile mapping systems, and more. It has achieved ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and OHSAS 18001 certification. It maintains a business in the US, Sweden, Germany, Finland, and more.
Inertial Sense is an American autonomous navigation systems and precision sensors manufacturer that was established in Provo, Utah in 2014. The company’s specialized product portfolio includes dual global navigation satellite system (GNSS) compass modules, real-time kinematic (RTK) sensor modules that combine functions with GNSS receivers for precision positioning capabilities, and sensor modules with attitude heading reference systems (AHRS). The company’s products are used mainly in the space exploration sector, including in unmanned vehicle payload delivery, drone navigation, and antennae and camera pointing operations.
Avnet, Inc. is an American distributor of electronic components and IT software originally founded in 1921 before its incorporation in 1961. Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, the company offers various electronic components including analog switches, microcontrollers, and circuit protectors, as well as IT solutions such as cloud computing and data analytics software. These are used by their clients in the automotive, transportation, security, and communication sectors. Avnet, Inc. operates in over 140 countries across North America, Asia, and Europe, and has several subsidiaries including Hackster.io, Dragon Innovation, and EBV Elektronik.
NovAtel Inc., established in 1978 and headquartered in Calgary, Canada, is a manufacturer that provides solutions for assured autonomy and positioning on land, sea, and air. The company offers a wide range of products, including GNSS receivers, GNSS inertial navigation systems, GPS and GNSS antennas, and anti-jam antenna. It also offers GPS and GNSS correction services, ground reference, and combined Systems. Its product is designed for low power consumption and multi-frequency tracking. It has been certified for ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015. It supplies products to the national aviation ground networks of the USA, Japan, Europe, China, and India.
ALPS ALPINE CO., established in 1948, is a manufacturer and supplier of sensors＆communication, modules＆systems, and components based in Tokyo, Japan. The company serves the energy, healthcare, automotive, mobile, and consumer electronics domains, where they combine and build on core device technology, including human-machine interfaces, SENSORING™, and connectivity. For example, in the healthcare industry, they supply components for medical equipment, including control switches, sensors, lenses, and joysticks, and the Senclear™ Microfluidic Devices for drug discovery and development. Their power conversion modules, current sensors inverters, and converters are used in the energy industry in storage batteries, solar power systems, and electric vehicle charging systems.
Sierra Wireless, founded in 1993 and headquartered in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, is a manufacturer and supplier of wireless communication solutions. The company’s product range consists of cellular modules, routers, gateways, and software, catering to industries like transportation, industrial, healthcare, retail, utilities, and government. Offering consulting, training, and support services, the company is devoted to delivering wireless communications solutions. The company's passion for customer satisfaction drives the development of new products and services. Holding ISO 9001:2015 certification, it maintains quality standards. The company is also an ideal provider with a global customer base.
Quectel is a Chinese manufacturer of cellular IoT antennas and modules that was established in Shanghai in 2010. The company’s product lineup includes LDS, combo, and FPC IoT antennas for improving the performance or reliability of wireless communications, as well as IoT modules supporting various technologies such as NB-IoT, 5G, and LTE. It also offers certification services for clients in need of additional support. The company operates internationally, with several overseas subsidiaries including Quectel Wireless Solutions (Europe) GmbH, Quectel Wireless Solutions (USA) Inc., and Quectel Wireless Solutions (India) Private Limited.
LOCOSYS Technology Inc., established in 2005 with headquarters in New Taipei City, Taiwan, is a manufacturer of GNSS/GPS positioning and navigation-related components. The company's product line includes GNSS positioning modules, GNSS dead reckoning modules, GPS patch antenna modules, MEMS modules, and traffic information RDS-TMC modules. These components are used in satellite positioning technology applications for vehicle traffic management, driver guidance devices, supply chain management, and personal devices, such as wristwatches. The company serves industries including maritime transportation, consumer products, automotive, public safety infrastructure, and mapping.
Leica Geosystems AG, founded in 1921 and based in Heerbrugg, Switzerland, is a manufacturer of systems and products in surveying and geographical measurement. The company is part of Hexagon. Its products include laser scanners, machine control systems, lasers, levels, and mobile mapping systems used in several fields, including mining, monitoring, agriculture, natural resources, and transportation. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, and in 1985, it launched the first GPS receiver, WILD WM101, for surveying applications. It acquired civilian businesses from Magnavox and introduced the first in-house GPS product in 1994.
ST Micro Electronics is a global semiconductor company serving customers with innovations to have a positive impact on people's lives. Their product line is micro electronic systems, such as switches, controllers, sensors and drivers. The main selling point of ST Micro Electronics is its provision of sustainable products, and introducing their electronics to create a more sustainable world. The company, as well as providing the electronic devices, also provides software and support, ensuring that all fields are covered to provide a fully provide a supported and strong relationship with their customer base. ST Micro Electronics believe that technology plays a key role in helping to solve environmental and social challenges, which is why their semiconductor technologies start with their employees, their customers and partners.
Linx Technologies is a manufacturer of wireless components, was founded in 1997, and is headquartered in Merlin, Oregon, United States. The company offers a wide range of products such as wireless modules, antennas, connectors, and passive components. These products are used in various industries, including aerospace, industrial automation, medical devices, and consumer electronics. Their products enable wireless communication, facilitating data transmission and connectivity in diverse environments. The company also provides services such as 3D printing, electrical installation training, and custom design services.
Telit, established in 1986 and based in Irvine, California, USA, is a manufacturer and distributor of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The company's product range includes cellular 5G modules, cellular LTE modules, Wi-Fi & Bluetooth modules, positioning modules, and smart modules. These products are essential for enabling seamless connectivity and positioning in various IoT applications. Serving sectors such as device manufacturing, semiconductors, connected factories, and SCADA and HMI visualization, it also offers services in engineering and R&D, device compliance and certification, IoT security, and supply chain management.
Novatest Srl., established in 2010 and based in Ancona, Italy, is a manufacturer and supplier of NDT instruments. The company also distributes tools for precise surveys, monitoring, and non-destructive testing. It adheres to the ISO 9001:2015 standards for the quality management system. In accordance with UNI/PdR 56:2019 and ISO 9712 standards, the company provides training sessions for the certification of individuals participating in non-destructive tests. It offers specific sensors for static and dynamic infrastructure monitoring and geotechnical monitoring. The company provides superior technical tools and devices to ensure geophysical research is as accurate as possible.
(YIC) is dedicated to providing the highest quality frequency control products (X’ tal / OSC / VCXO / TCXO ...), GNSS modules, GNSS receivers, and RF antennas. Our technical expertise and assistance help you find the ideal solution for your project, specialize in custom product development, and collaborate closely with customers to design and launch innovative, niche products tailored to their unique requirements. We are committed to delivering the best quality and services at a reasonable price and the shortest lead time. We strive to establish long-term, win-win relationships with our customers and gain 100% confidence in the support and service capability of YIC’s Frequency Control Products & GNSS/RF Products-related technology and applications.
FURUNO ELECTRIC CO. LTD., Founded in 1948 by Kiyotaka Furuno, is a Japanese electronics company specializing in marine electronics, including radar systems, fish finders, and navigational instruments. With headquarters in Nishinomiya, Japan, FURUNO also produces global positioning systems, medical equipment, and meteorological instrumentation. Established as FURUNO ELECTRIC SHOKAI LTD., it commercialized the world's first practical fish finder in 1948, resulting in its expansion into various marine sectors. The company has a long history of technological advancement and has made significant contributions to the marine electronics industry since its inception.
TerrisGPS is a Canadian OEM GPS products distributor that was established in 2009 in Gatineau, Quebec. The company stocks global navigation satellite system (GNSS) enclosures for housing and protecting GNSS boards or components, GNSS modules compatible with GLONASS, Galileo and GPS signals, and development kits for testing and integration applications. It also offers related accessories such as splitter, amplifiers, and repeaters. The company’s products are commonly used in unmanned space exploration missions, military and/or defense operations, and in mapping applications such as geodesy or cartography.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unicore Communications,Inc. |
15.5%
|
| 2 | Sierra Wireless |
9.8%
|
| 3 | Avnet, Inc. |
8.0%
|
| 4 | Inertial Sense |
6.4%
|
| 5 | TerrisGPS |
6.2%
|
| 6 | Linx Technologies |
5.0%
|
| 7 | Quectel |
4.8%
|
| 8 | ALPS ALPINE CO., LTD |
4.8%
|
| 9 | everything RF |
4.6%
|
| 10 | Telit |
4.6%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the gnss module page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
3 | 27.3% |
|
Canada
|
3 | 27.3% |
|
China
|
2 | 18.2% |
|
Japan
|
2 | 18.2% |
|
Taiwan
|
1 | 9.1% |
42 products found
42 products
Position Co., Ltd.
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GSU-151 is a surface-mount multi-GNSS receiver module product that is ultra-compact and power-saving. ■Multi-GNSS compatible module Now supports 5...
Techno Flash Co., Ltd.
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This is a GNSS receiving board using u-blox's ZED-F9P module. Measurement and communication using UART and USB such as Raspberry Pi and Armadillo a...
ITS21 Planning Co., Ltd.
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■Summary ・Streamline direction measurement work without being affected by the weather on the day. Conventional solar power systems have the proble...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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A new generation unique GNSSSoC that integrates RF, baseband, and high-precision algorithms to deliver superior performance while maintaining low p...
Techno Flash Co., Ltd.
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This is a GNSS receiver board using u-blox's NEO-M8T module. Measurement and communication using UART and USB such as Raspberry Pi and Armadillo ar...
![Equipped with GNSS [Positioning Starter Kit]-Telepower Co., Ltd.](https://metoree.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com/img/products-new/3001533202402258.png)
Telepower Co., Ltd.
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Very Fast Response
We have developed an integrated LPWA communication + GNSS system that has many needs while maintaining ease of use such as the use of MicroPython a...
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Unicore Communications,Inc.
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Unicore's new generation proprietary GNSS precision timing module works with all systems and multiple frequencies. GNSS timing modules continuously...
Braveridge Co., Ltd.
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GNSS module BVMGPS5605S ■Product overview "BVMGPS5605S" is a multi-GNSS receiver module that is equipped with Sony Semiconductor Solutions' GNSS r...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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High precision dual frequency GNSS & INS integrated navigation module developed by Unicore for the intelligent driving market. The module supports ...
Harada Sangyo Co., Ltd.
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BKtel Pacific Rim Co., Ltd.
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Fast Response
■Next generation GNSS optical power transmission products HUBER+SUHNER's GNSS & Power-over-Fiber products are the world's first, 100% Copper free t...
3 models listed
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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UM680A is a high precision GNSS dual frequency navigation module developed by Unicore for the intelligent driving market. Based on the unique multi...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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UM670A is a high precision GNSS dual frequency navigation module developed by Unicore for the intelligent driving market. Based on a unique multi-s...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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Single frequency, multi-constellation GNSSSoC with low power consumption and miniature design. Integrate RF and baseband on a single chip. The chip...
3 models listed
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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UM220-INS NL is an industrial grade GNSS MEMS module designed for in-dash vehicle navigation and high-end navigation. Based on Unicore's unique low...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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UM220-INS NF is an automotive grade GNSS MEMS module designed for in-dash navigation and high-end navigation. Based on Unicore's proprietary low-po...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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Multi-constellation positioning module for the vehicle navigation market. It is based on Unicore's GNSSSoC-UC6226. The UM220-IV NV features high in...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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Multi-constellation positioning module for the vehicle navigation market. It is based on Unicore's GNSSSoC-UC6226. The UM221-IV NV features high in...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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Multi-constellation compact navigation module designed for the automotive market. Based on Unicore's GNSSSoC-UC6226, it boasts high integration, lo...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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UM220-IV L is a timing module developed for communication timing and electrical grid timing, supporting GPS, BDS, GLONASS, and Galileo. This module...
Cathay Tritec Ltd.
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■Product overview SIM68AD is a concurrent multi-GNSS module that supports Untethered Dead Reckoning. Equipped with a powerful GNSS core and 6-axis ...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
110+ people viewing
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UB9A0 is Unicore's new generation proprietary high-precision RTK positioning board based on NebulasIV SoC, which integrates RF, baseband and high-p...
6 models listed
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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Dual frequency, multi-constellation GNSSSoC with low power consumption and miniature design. It integrates RF and baseband on a single chip, and em...
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Unicore Communications,Inc.
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Dual frequency navigation module based on a unique multi-system dual frequency high performance SoC, UC6580A. This module supports multi-system dua...
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UM620 is an industrial grade GNSS dual frequency navigation module developed by Unicore Communi-cions. Based on the unique multi-system dual-frequ...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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UM621A is a GNSS dual frequency MEMS integrated navigation module developed by Unicore Communications for the automotive market. It is based on th...
Unicore Communications,Inc.
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UM621 is a GNSS dual frequency MEMS integrated navigation module developed by Unicore Communications. It is based on the unique multi-system dual-f...
