Ruigu Electronic

The powerful technological innovation of the Internet of Things (IoT) is profoundly transforming our world. By connecting various devices and systems, it enables seamless data flow and intelligent decision-making, driving transformation and upgrading across all industries. From manufacturing to safety assurance, from transportation and logistics to smart cities, IoT applications are ubiquitous. This seamless connectivity creates a smarter and more efficient lifestyle. In this process, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has played a crucial role. As one of the most mature technologies in outdoor positioning and navigation, it provides precise and reliable location information for various applications, whether it be real-time tracking in smart wearables or precise positioning on electric bicycles.

Dual Drivers of Market and Technology: Continuously Upgraded GNSS Modules

Just a few years ago, the idea of positioning systems permeating every aspect of life was only seen in science fiction films. Today, products with this functionality have entered people’s lives in various forms, from tracking and positioning in smart wearable devices to ensuring the safety of personnel in work environments, and to precisely controlling the movement paths of various assets. Positioning technology has become an indispensable part of modern society. According to the “GNSS Market Report,” the global satellite navigation industry market size was 150.7 billion euros in 2019, and it is projected to reach 324.4 billion euros by 2029. On one hand, as the market continues to expand, it brings more business opportunities for the entire industry chain. Whether it’s smartphones, car navigation systems, livestock grazing tracking, or electric bicycle location tracking, the application scenarios for GNSS technology are becoming increasingly diverse, and market demand is continuously growing.

On the other hand, with technological advancements and the upgrading of smart cities, the performance requirements for GNSS modules are also increasing. As a major producer and consumer of electric bicycles, China produced a cumulative total of 42.28 million electric bicycles nationwide in 2023, and the market size is expected to grow from 17.2 billion US dollars to 24.2 billion US dollars by 2028. To enhance the active safety performance of electric bicycles, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People’s Republic of China issued the revised “Safety Technical Specifications for Electric Bicycles” in 2024, further clarifying the necessity of adding Beidou positioning to electric bicycles.

Therefore, consumers and businesses not only require higher positioning accuracy and faster response speeds but also demand devices with lower power consumption, smaller sizes, and higher reliability. This has prompted terminal device manufacturers to adopt more flexible design solutions to optimize the hardware design of GNSS positioning modules while ensuring performance, thereby improving energy efficiency to meet the increasingly diverse demands of the market.

“Craftsmanship Quality + Innovative Technology,” Murata Enables the Industry to Enter the Connected Future

As an “innovator in the electronics industry,” Murata leverages its deep industry experience and unique technical expertise to continuously drive technological innovation in electronic components, delivering better products to society through a craftsmanship-driven design philosophy. By anticipating market development needs, Murata has developed the new Type 2GQ GNSS positioning module to accelerate the realization of an interconnected era.

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Murata GNSS Positioning Module Type 2GQ

From a product design perspective, the Type 2GQ GNSS module (hereinafter referred to as Type 2GQ) is equipped with an advanced ARM Cortex-M33 dual-core processor. With its powerful multi-tasking capabilities, customers no longer need to connect an external SoC/MCU, thereby helping to reduce the BOM of terminal products. While one core of the Type 2GQ focuses on satellite positioning, the other independent core can flexibly run user-defined programs, ensuring the efficient operation and stability of the system.

As the core controller of the system, the Type 2GQ ensures smooth program execution. Its module packaging employs a metal sputtering resin encapsulation process, achieving uniform coating and further enhancing product reliability. Additionally, the built-in Murata-manufactured SAW filter features ultra-low insertion loss and ultra-high out-of-band suppression, effectively improving signal reception quality and the module’s interference resistance, enabling it to maintain excellent stability even in complex environments. The mature modular design not only helps customers simplify the design and assembly process but also significantly enhances usability.

Compared to similar products on the market, the Type 2GQ GNSS module boasts superior features such as ultra-compact size, high reliability, and ultra-low power consumption. It can receive signals from the world’s five major satellite systems—Beidou, Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, and QZSS—enabling precise positioning worldwide. Notably, the module collaborates closely with Chinese domestic chip manufacturers, offering a rich array of open interfaces, including UART, SPI, I2C, PPS, GPIOs, and ADC.

Murata’s Type 2GQ GNSS module not only excels in performance stability, durability, and security but also demonstrates outstanding performance in real-world applications. In rigorous baseline validation tests, the Type 2GQ module achieves continuous stable operation, maintaining high positioning accuracy even in complex obstructed areas, outperforming multiple other tested products, and meeting customers’ precise positioning requirements across various application scenarios.

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Wide-ranging application areas of Murata’s Type 2GQ GNSS module products

Currently, the Type 2GQ module has been successfully applied in multiple fields, receiving positive feedback from numerous customers, with the “wearable,” “positioning,” and “tracking” sectors being the most prominent.

Wearable: Applications in this field primarily combine health monitoring with positioning. By equipping workers with wearable devices featuring the Type 2GQ module, it provides additional safety保障 for personnel in factory or open-work environments, monitoring whether their location is within a safe zone, and can also be configured with sensor products to monitor vital signs. Additionally, these devices can assist in the daily monitoring of elderly and vulnerable populations, helping to reduce the risk of wandering for Alzheimer’s patients and young children.

Location tracking: Currently, this product has successfully assisted a well-known Chinese manufacturer in launching an electric bicycle mobility solution. It offers an integrated solution with low-power consumption and compact modules, supporting GNSS and GPS technologies. The next-generation LTE module adopts the advanced ALT1350 chipset, achieving the lowest power consumption in a compact, feature-rich solution. It is suitable for IoT applications, including iSIM/NTN, and can support high-precision, rapid-start satellite positioning and navigation.

Tracking: Used for monitoring the movement of personal assets, including in livestock farming, logistics, and production equipment, to ensure asset security. Taking pigeon racing as an example, by equipping pigeons with positioning products, it is possible to monitor their flight trajectories, assess their navigation capabilities, and determine their ability to overcome ground obstacles, thereby understanding flight patterns and providing a basis for evaluating performance. It also helps identify reasons for late returns or losses and prevents cheating. This also requires positioning products to have lower power consumption, higher precision, and smaller size performance, and Murata’s Type 2GQ module can fully meet this demand.

Murata’s Craftsmanship: Efficiently Supporting the Connected Future

In today’s highly competitive market environment, product reliability and support services have become core elements for companies to win customer trust. Murata’s product advantages are not only reflected in outstanding performance and quality but also in its comprehensive and efficient post-sales service support and deep understanding and precise grasp of industry needs.

To genuinely assist customers in reducing costs and improving efficiency, Murata starts with preliminary experiments to establish a complete配套service process. Not only can it provide customers with testing and evaluation tools (EVK) synchronously according to their needs to help save project time, but it has also established a comprehensive after-sales service system to provide customers with timely and professional after-sales support. When customers encounter various issues, Murata’s professional technical team can respond swiftly and provide rapid and effective solutions.

With the rapid advancement of IoT technology, the widespread application of IoT will not only transform the operational models of traditional industries but also give rise to new business models and market opportunities. As a leading innovator in the electronics industry, Murata understands that the development of IoT relies on efficient, reliable, and secure electronic components and solutions. In the future, Murata will continue to leverage its strengths in electronic components and modules to drive technological innovation and product upgrades, adapting to the rapid changes in the market. This will enable the company to provide more reliable and secure solutions for the future IoT world, thereby promoting the sustained development of the entire industry.