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New u-blox F11 platform provides ultra-low power GNSS for all environments

Credit: u-blox
Credit: u-blox

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The new u-blox F11 platform provides L1/L5 dual-band standard-precision GNSS designed to significantly improve positioning accuracy while dramatically reducing power consumption to as low as 7 mW in typical configurations using low-energy accurate positioning (LEAP) mode for tracking and wearable applications.

The F11 platform marks a major step forward in meter-level GNSS positioning, the company said. It combines ultra-low power operation with intelligent signal management to meet the evolving demands of tracking, wearables, telematics and mobility applications — including micromobility solutions and drones. The platform enables device manufacturers to achieve longer battery life, faster and more reliable position fixes, and greater design flexibility, u-blox said.

Intelligent dual-band operation

Expanding power saving capabilities, the F11 platform is a new situationally aware GNSS architecture (with integrated geofencing and indoor detections) that dynamically balances accuracy and power consumption. By selectively using dual-band L1/L5 operation only when it helps maintain the positioning performance, the F11 platform reduces energy use while providing resilience and maintaining confidence in location data.

Compared to previous generations, the platform delivers up to 40% lower power consumption during signal acquisition and up to 30% lower power consumption in continuous tracking modes, while improving position accuracy by up to 30% in challenging environments such as dense urban areas. For long-life tracking applications (assets, livestock, pets and people), optimized first-fix performance further reduces GNSS on-time, enabling multi-year battery operation.

For scalable, high-volume applications

The u-blox F11 platform addresses the growing demand for GNSS solutions that are robust, power-efficient, and easy to integrate across a wide range of industries. The platform supports both single-band and dual-band operation within a single footprint, allowing device manufacturers to simplify designs and scale products across multiple market segments.

Key application areas include:

  • asset and fleet tracking
  • consumer and fitness wearables
  • aftermarket telematics
  • livestock tracking
  • people/pet tracking
  • industrial sensing and IoT
  • micromobility and mobility services
  • consumer drones and action cameras

By focusing on real-world performance rather than raw specifications, the F11 platform enables faster development cycles, improved user experience, and lower total system cost for OEMs — with form-factor compatibility and firmware upgradeability as a way to future proof designs.  

Availability

The platform is being showcased at Embedded World 2026. First products will be available by the end of June 2026. 

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