NEO-M9N satellite-navigation receiver

The NEO-M9N is a standard-precision GNSS receiver module from u-blox, delivered as a 12.2 x 16.0 mm surface-mount LCC package in the NEO form factor. It is a multi-constellation GNSS receiver that tracks up to four satellite systems at once and supplies position, velocity and time to a host controller, and u-blox lists drones and UAVs among its target applications.

The M9 platform receives GPS and QZSS L1 C/A, GLONASS L1OF, Galileo E1-B/C and BeiDou B1I signals concurrently, with SBAS support (EGNOS, GAGAN, MSAS and WAAS) and QZSS L1S. Differential input in RTCM 3.3 format is accepted. The module carries flash memory, a TCXO, a SAW filter and a low-noise amplifier, so it works with a passive or active antenna with little extra RF hardware.

For navigation performance, the datasheet gives a horizontal position accuracy of 2.0 m CEP in multi-constellation operation, a velocity accuracy of 0.05 m/s and a dynamic heading accuracy of 0.3 degrees. The maximum navigation update rate is 25 Hz, so flight controllers get position updates quickly enough for fast dynamics. Tracking sensitivity is -167 dBm. Cold start takes 24 s with all four systems, and hot start 2 s. Operational limits are dynamics up to 4 g, altitude up to 80,000 m and velocity up to 500 m/s.

Interference handling is a significant point for aircraft. The module detects and reports RF interference and jamming, applies active in-band filtering, and detects and reports spoofing. Further security features are signed messages (SHA-256), secure boot and a lockable configuration. Firmware features include data logging, geofencing for up to four circular areas, an odometer and power-save modes.

For integration, supply is 2.7 to 3.6 V (3.0 V typical), and the operating temperature range is -40 to +85 degrees C. Tracking current is about 36 mA in continuous mode with four constellations. The interfaces are UART (default 38,400 baud, up to 921,600), SPI, I2C (Fast-mode, 400 kbit/s) and USB 2.0 full speed. The module outputs NMEA 4.10 by default and also speaks the u-blox UBX protocol, and RTCM 3.3 corrections are input to it. A 1PPS time pulse output is available, with 30 ns RMS accuracy. Mass is 1.0 g.

The datasheet states compliance with the Radio Equipment Directive and with RoHS. Typical applications are UAV and multirotor flight controllers, vehicle telematics, asset tracking and industrial navigation, often with a separate RTK receiver for higher precision.