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Achieve high-precision navigation and positioning with UM980 and PIC32MZ2048EFM100

Multifrequency GNSS RTK positioning solution

GNSS RTK 5 Click with Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF

Published Jan 29, 2025

Click board™

GNSS RTK 5 Click

Dev. board

Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF

Compiler

NECTO Studio

MCU

PIC32MZ2048EFM100

Navigation and positioning with multifrequency GNSS and anti-jamming technology perfect for surveying, agriculture, UAVs, and robotics

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Hardware Overview

How does it work?

GNSS RTK 5 Click is based on the UM980, an all-constellation multifrequency RTK positioning module from Unicore. The UM980 uses Unicore's NebulasIV SoC, a GNSS System-on-Chip (SoC) that combines RF-baseband integration with advanced high-precision algorithms. This SoC also includes a dual-core CPU, a high-speed floating-point processor, and a dedicated RTK co-processor, supported by 1408 channels, ensuring unparalleled signal processing capabilities. The UM980 supports many satellite constellations, including GPS, BDS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, NavIC, SBAS, and L-Band, making it suitable for global high-precision applications. Its integrated JamShield adaptive anti-jamming technology further enhances signal reliability, offering faster initialization, exceptional measurement accuracy, and unmatched reliability, even in challenging environments such as dense urban landscapes and heavily shaded areas. Thanks to these advanced features, GNSS RTK 5 Click excels in many high-precision navigation and positioning scenarios like surveying and mapping, precision agriculture, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and autonomous robotics. The UM980 and the host MCU are communicated through a UART interface, using standard UART RX and TX pins for efficient data transfer. The module defaults to a communication speed of 115200bps, allowing for seamless data

exchange over AT commands. While the module also includes pins for an I2C interface, this functionality is currently unsupported in the existing firmware version. In addition to the interface pins, the board features a reset (RST) pin and a RESET button for hard resetting the module when necessary. This board also includes a USB Type-C connector for USB 2.0 Full Speed 12Mbps hardware capability, allowing both power supply and configuration via a PC. This functionality is enabled by the CP2102N, a highly integrated USB-to-UART bridge, along with the MCP1826 LDO regulator, which converts the USB supply to the necessary 3.3V for the module, allowing for standalone configuration. A notable addition to the board is the inclusion of dedicated test points, among which test points 3 and 4 stand out. These represent the module's CAN TX and RX signals, operating at LVTTL levels and offering additional functionality for specific user requirements. The board incorporates several additional pins that enhance functionality and provide real-time status feedback. The PVT pin serves as a position, velocity, and time calculation indicator, remaining HIGH during active positioning, while the ERR pin acts as an error status indicator, showing HIGH when the module fails its self-test and LOW when it passes. Additionally, the EVT pin is used for event mark input, enabling the logging of precise GNSS

time tags. Visual indicators complement these pins for improved usability: the PVT pin is linked to a green LED, and the ERR pin is connected to a red LED, providing immediate visual feedback. The board also features a blue LED to indicate the RTK feature, lighting up HIGH for an RTK fixed solution and LOW for other positioning statuses or no positioning. Furthermore, a yellow LED displays the timepulse signal (PPS), offering precise time synchronization for applications that require it. This Click board™ also features the SMA antenna connector with an impedance of 50Ω, compatible with various antennas available from MIKROE, like the GNSS L1/L5 Band Active Antenna (High and Standard precision) and others, to enhance its connectivity. This Click board™ can operate with both 3.3V and 5V logic voltage levels selected via the VCC SEL jumper. Since the UM980 module operates at 3.3V, a logic-level translator, the TXS0108E is also used for proper operation and an accurate signal-level translation. This way, both 3.3V and 5V capable MCUs can use the communication lines properly. Also, this Click board™ comes equipped with a library containing easy-to-use functions and an example code that can be used as a reference for further development.

GNSS RTK 5 Click hardware overview image

Features overview

Development board

Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF development board is a fully integrated 32-bit development platform featuring the high-performance PIC32MZ EF Series (PIC32MZ2048EFM) that has a 2MB Flash, 512KB RAM, integrated FPU, Crypto accelerator, and excellent connectivity options. It includes an integrated programmer and debugger, requiring no additional hardware. Users can expand

functionality through MIKROE mikroBUS™ Click™ adapter boards, add Ethernet connectivity with the Microchip PHY daughter board, add WiFi connectivity capability using the Microchip expansions boards, and add audio input and output capability with Microchip audio daughter boards. These boards are fully integrated into PIC32’s powerful software framework, MPLAB Harmony,

which provides a flexible and modular interface to application development a rich set of inter-operable software stacks (TCP-IP, USB), and easy-to-use features. The Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF development board offers expansion capabilities making it an excellent choice for a rapid prototyping board in Connectivity, IOT, and general-purpose applications.

Curiosity PIC32MZ EF double side image

Microcontroller Overview

MCU Card / MCU

default

Architecture

PIC32

MCU Memory (KB)

2048

Silicon Vendor

Microchip

Pin count

100

RAM (Bytes)

524288

You complete me!

Accessories

GNSS L1/L5 Band Active Antenna - High Precision (ANN-MB1) is a multi-band active antenna designed to support GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou systems, offering a comprehensive solution for high-precision GNSS applications. Optimized for applications demanding exceptional accuracy, this multi-band antenna provides coverage for L1, L5, E5a, B2a, and NavIC frequency bands, ensuring reliable performance across diverse GNSS systems. The ANN-MB1 stands out with its compact design and excellent price-to-performance ratio, making it an ideal choice for users seeking a fast and efficient path to market. This antenna is an excellent companion for the u-blox F9 platform, including models such as NEO-F9P-15B, ZED-F9P15B, and ZED-F9T-10B. By supporting both L1 and L5 bands, the ANN-MB1 streamlines integration efforts, helping users minimize evaluation and design complexities. Its robust design enables superior multi-band operation, which is essential for applications requiring high positional accuracy, such as surveying, precision agriculture, and autonomous navigation systems. At the heart of the ANN-MB1 is a high-performance Right-Hand Circularly Polarized (RHCP) dual-resonance, dual-feed patch antenna element. This sophisticated design is complemented by a built-in high-gain Low-Noise Amplifier (LNA) with Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) pre-filtering, ensuring optimal signal quality by reducing noise and interference. The integrated LNA significantly enhances the antenna’s ability to capture weak GNSS signals, providing reliable performance even in challenging environments. The ANN-MB1 antenna is equipped with a 5-meter cable terminated with an SMA connector, offering flexibility in placement and ease of installation. Its well-engineered design ensures consistent performance across various applications, making it an invaluable tool for the next generation of GNSS-based systems. With its user-friendly setup and robust performance, the ANN-MB1 is tailored to meet the demands of industries requiring precise and reliable GNSS solutions.

GNSS RTK 5 Click accessories 1 image

GNSS L1/L5 Band Active Antenna - Standard Precision (ANN-MB5) is a high-performance multi-band active GNSS antenna developed by u-blox for GPS, Galileo, and BeiDou systems. Designed for standard precision applications, this antenna offers exceptional performance at an affordable price, making it an ideal choice for next-generation multi-frequency GNSS technology. The ANN-MB5 supports multiple bands, including L1, L5, E5a, B2a, and NavIC, enabling precise and reliable positioning even in complex and obstructed environments. Engineered for ease of integration, the ANN-MB5 boasts a compact design, simple mounting options, and a cost-effective solution for large-scale deployments. This antenna perfectly suits u-blox’s multi-band GNSS receivers, such as the F10 standard precision platform, ensuring seamless compatibility. Minimizing the need for additional evaluation and design efforts accelerates development timelines and reduces time-to-market. The ANN-MB5 features an advanced multi-band RHCP (Right-Hand Circularly Polarized) single-feed stacked-patch antenna element, providing robust signal reception across multiple GNSS frequencies. It incorporates a built-in low-noise amplifier (LNA) with SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) pre-filtering to enhance signal quality and reduce interference. The antenna has a 3-meter cable and an SMA connector, offering flexible placement options for diverse application needs. This antenna meets the demands of modern GNSS applications, offering high reliability, accurate positioning, and simplified deployment in a wide range of environments.

GNSS RTK 5 Click accessories 2 image

Used MCU Pins

mikroBUS™ mapper

Positioning Status
RPB4
AN
Reset
RA9
RST
ID COMM
RPD4
CS
NC
NC
SCK
NC
NC
MISO
NC
NC
MOSI
Power Supply
3.3V
3.3V
Ground
GND
GND
Event Mark
RPE8
PWM
Error Status
RF13
INT
UART TX
RPD10
TX
UART RX
RPD15
RX
I2C Clock
RPA14
SCL
I2C Data
RPA15
SDA
Power Supply
5V
5V
Ground
GND
GND
1

Take a closer look

Click board™ Schematic

GNSS RTK 5 Click Schematic schematic

Step by step

Project assembly

Curiosity PIC32MZ EF front image hardware assembly

Start by selecting your development board and Click board™. Begin with the Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF as your development board.

Curiosity PIC32MZ EF front image hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click front image hardware assembly
Prog-cut hardware assembly
GNSS2 Click complete accessories setup image hardware assembly
Board mapper by product7 hardware assembly
Necto image step 2 hardware assembly
Necto image step 3 hardware assembly
Necto image step 4 hardware assembly
Necto image step 5 hardware assembly
Necto image step 6 hardware assembly
Curiosity PIC32 MZ EF MCU Step hardware assembly
Necto No Display image step 8 hardware assembly
Necto image step 9 hardware assembly
Necto image step 10 hardware assembly
Debug Image Necto Step hardware assembly

Track your results in real time

Application Output

1. Application Output - In Debug mode, the 'Application Output' window enables real-time data monitoring, offering direct insight into execution results. Ensure proper data display by configuring the environment correctly using the provided tutorial.

2. UART Terminal - Use the UART Terminal to monitor data transmission via a USB to UART converter, allowing direct communication between the Click board™ and your development system. Configure the baud rate and other serial settings according to your project's requirements to ensure proper functionality. For step-by-step setup instructions, refer to the provided tutorial.

3. Plot Output - The Plot feature offers a powerful way to visualize real-time sensor data, enabling trend analysis, debugging, and comparison of multiple data points. To set it up correctly, follow the provided tutorial, which includes a step-by-step example of using the Plot feature to display Click board™ readings. To use the Plot feature in your code, use the function: plot(*insert_graph_name*, variable_name);. This is a general format, and it is up to the user to replace 'insert_graph_name' with the actual graph name and 'variable_name' with the parameter to be displayed.

Software Support

Library Description

GNSS RTK 5 Click demo application is developed using the NECTO Studio, ensuring compatibility with mikroSDK's open-source libraries and tools. Designed for plug-and-play implementation and testing, the demo is fully compatible with all development, starter, and mikromedia boards featuring a mikroBUS™ socket.

Example Description
This example demonstrates the use of GNSS RTK 5 Click by reading and displaying the GNSS coordinates.

Key functions:

  • gnssrtk5_cfg_setup - Config Object Initialization function.

  • gnssrtk5_init - Initialization function.

  • gnssrtk5_cmd_run - This function parses the GGA data from the read response buffer.

  • gnssrtk5_parse_gga - This function parses the GGA data from the read response buffer.

  • gnssrtk5_generic_read - This function reads a desired number of data bytes by using UART serial interface.

Application Init
Initializes the driver, resets the Click board, reads the module version and config, and enables the NMEA GNGGA message output.

Application Task
Reads the received data, parses the NMEA GGA info from it, and once it receives the position fix it will start displaying the coordinates on the USB UART.

Open Source

Code example

The complete application code and a ready-to-use project are available through the NECTO Studio Package Manager for direct installation in the NECTO Studio. The application code can also be found on the MIKROE GitHub account.

/*!
 * @file main.c
 * @brief GNSS RTK 5 Click Example.
 *
 * # Description
 * This example demonstrates the use of GNSS RTK 5 Click by reading and displaying
 * the GNSS coordinates.
 *
 * The demo application is composed of two sections :
 *
 * ## Application Init
 * Initializes the driver, resets the Click board, reads the module version and config,
 * and enables the NMEA GNGGA message output.
 *
 * ## Application Task
 * Reads the received data, parses the NMEA GGA info from it, and once it receives 
 * the position fix it will start displaying the coordinates on the USB UART.
 *
 * ## Additional Function
 * - static void gnssrtk5_clear_app_buf ( void )
 * - static void gnssrtk5_log_app_buf ( void )
 * - static err_t gnssrtk5_process ( gnssrtk5_t *ctx )
 * - static err_t gnssrtk5_read_response ( gnssrtk5_t *ctx, uint8_t *rsp )
 * - static void gnssrtk5_parser_application ( uint8_t *rsp )
 *
 * @author Stefan Filipovic
 *
 */

#include "board.h"
#include "log.h"
#include "gnssrtk5.h"

// Application buffer size
#define APP_BUFFER_SIZE             800
#define PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE         100

static gnssrtk5_t gnssrtk5;
static log_t logger;

static uint8_t app_buf[ APP_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
static int32_t app_buf_len = 0;

/**
 * @brief GNSS RTK 5 clearing application buffer.
 * @details This function clears memory of application buffer and reset its length.
 * @note None.
 */
static void gnssrtk5_clear_app_buf ( void );

/**
 * @brief GNSS RTK 5 log application buffer.
 * @details This function logs data from application buffer to USB UART.
 * @note None.
 */
static void gnssrtk5_log_app_buf ( void );

/**
 * @brief GNSS RTK 5 data reading function.
 * @details This function reads data from device and concatenates data to application buffer. 
 * @param[in] ctx : Click context object.
 * See #gnssrtk5_t object definition for detailed explanation.
 * @return @li @c  0 - Read some data.
 *         @li @c -1 - Nothing is read.
 * See #err_t definition for detailed explanation.
 * @note None.
 */
static err_t gnssrtk5_process ( gnssrtk5_t *ctx );

/**
 * @brief GNSS RTK 5 read response function.
 * @details This function waits for a response message, reads and displays it on the USB UART.
 * @param[in] ctx : Click context object.
 * See #gnssrtk5_t object definition for detailed explanation.
 * @param[in] rsp  Expected response.
 * @return @li @c  0 - OK response.
 *         @li @c -2 - Timeout error.
 * See #err_t definition for detailed explanation.
 * @note None.
 */
static err_t gnssrtk5_read_response ( gnssrtk5_t *ctx, uint8_t *rsp );

/**
 * @brief GNSS RTK 5 parser application.
 * @param[in] rsp Response buffer.
 * @details This function logs GNSS data on the USB UART.
 * @return None.
 * @note None.
 */
static void gnssrtk5_parser_application ( uint8_t *rsp );

void application_init ( void ) 
{
    log_cfg_t log_cfg;  /**< Logger config object. */
    gnssrtk5_cfg_t gnssrtk5_cfg;  /**< Click config object. */

    /** 
     * Logger initialization.
     * Default baud rate: 115200
     * Default log level: LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG
     * @note If USB_UART_RX and USB_UART_TX 
     * are defined as HAL_PIN_NC, you will 
     * need to define them manually for log to work. 
     * See @b LOG_MAP_USB_UART macro definition for detailed explanation.
     */
    LOG_MAP_USB_UART( log_cfg );
    log_init( &logger, &log_cfg );
    log_info( &logger, " Application Init " );

    // Click initialization.
    gnssrtk5_cfg_setup( &gnssrtk5_cfg );
    GNSSRTK5_MAP_MIKROBUS( gnssrtk5_cfg, MIKROBUS_1 );
    if ( UART_ERROR == gnssrtk5_init( &gnssrtk5, &gnssrtk5_cfg ) ) 
    {
        log_error( &logger, " Communication init." );
        for ( ; ; );
    }

    log_printf( &logger, ">>> Reset device.\r\n" );
    gnssrtk5_reset_device ( &gnssrtk5 );
    gnssrtk5_read_response ( &gnssrtk5, GNSSRTK5_RSP_RESET );
    
    log_printf( &logger, ">>> Get module version.\r\n" );
    gnssrtk5_cmd_run ( &gnssrtk5, GNSSRTK5_CMD_GET_VERSION );
    gnssrtk5_read_response ( &gnssrtk5, GNSSRTK5_RSP_COMMAND );

    log_printf( &logger, ">>> Get module config.\r\n" );
    gnssrtk5_cmd_run ( &gnssrtk5, GNSSRTK5_CMD_GET_CONFIG );
    gnssrtk5_read_response ( &gnssrtk5, GNSSRTK5_RSP_COMMAND );

    log_printf( &logger, ">>> Enable GNGGA output.\r\n" );
    gnssrtk5_cmd_run ( &gnssrtk5, GNSSRTK5_CMD_ENABLE_GGA );
    gnssrtk5_read_response ( &gnssrtk5, GNSSRTK5_RSP_COMMAND );
    gnssrtk5_clear_app_buf( );

    log_info( &logger, " Application Task " );
}

void application_task ( void ) 
{
    if ( GNSSRTK5_OK == gnssrtk5_process( &gnssrtk5 ) ) 
    {
        if ( app_buf_len > ( sizeof ( GNSSRTK5_RSP_GGA ) + GNSSRTK5_GGA_ELEMENT_SIZE ) ) 
        {
            gnssrtk5_parser_application( app_buf );
        }
    }
}

int main ( void ) 
{
    /* Do not remove this line or clock might not be set correctly. */
    #ifdef PREINIT_SUPPORTED
    preinit();
    #endif
    
    application_init( );
    
    for ( ; ; ) 
    {
        application_task( );
    }

    return 0;
}

static void gnssrtk5_clear_app_buf ( void ) 
{
    memset( app_buf, 0, app_buf_len );
    app_buf_len = 0;
}

static void gnssrtk5_log_app_buf ( void )
{
    for ( int32_t buf_cnt = 0; buf_cnt < app_buf_len; buf_cnt++ )
    {
        log_printf( &logger, "%c", app_buf[ buf_cnt ] );
    }
}

static err_t gnssrtk5_process ( gnssrtk5_t *ctx ) 
{
    uint8_t rx_buf[ PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
    int32_t overflow_bytes = 0;
    int32_t rx_cnt = 0;
    int32_t rx_size = gnssrtk5_generic_read( ctx, rx_buf, PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE );
    if ( ( rx_size > 0 ) && ( rx_size <= APP_BUFFER_SIZE ) ) 
    {
        if ( ( app_buf_len + rx_size ) > APP_BUFFER_SIZE ) 
        {
            overflow_bytes = ( app_buf_len + rx_size ) - APP_BUFFER_SIZE;
            app_buf_len = APP_BUFFER_SIZE - rx_size;
            memmove ( app_buf, &app_buf[ overflow_bytes ], app_buf_len );
            memset ( &app_buf[ app_buf_len ], 0, overflow_bytes );
        }
        for ( rx_cnt = 0; rx_cnt < rx_size; rx_cnt++ ) 
        {
            if ( rx_buf[ rx_cnt ] ) 
            {
                app_buf[ app_buf_len++ ] = rx_buf[ rx_cnt ];
            }
        }
        return GNSSRTK5_OK;
    }
    return GNSSRTK5_ERROR;
}

static err_t gnssrtk5_read_response ( gnssrtk5_t *ctx, uint8_t *rsp )
{
    #define READ_RESPONSE_TIMEOUT_MS 5000
    uint32_t timeout_cnt = 0;
    gnssrtk5_clear_app_buf ( );
    while ( ( GNSSRTK5_OK == gnssrtk5_process( ctx ) ) || ( 0 == strstr( app_buf, rsp ) ) )
    {
        if ( timeout_cnt > READ_RESPONSE_TIMEOUT_MS )
        {
            gnssrtk5_log_app_buf( );
            gnssrtk5_clear_app_buf( );
            log_error( &logger, " Timeout!" );
            return GNSSRTK5_ERROR_TIMEOUT;
        }
        timeout_cnt += 10;
        Delay_ms( 10 );
    }
    gnssrtk5_log_app_buf( );
    log_printf( &logger, "--------------------------------\r\n" );
    return GNSSRTK5_OK;
}

static void gnssrtk5_parser_application ( uint8_t *rsp )
{
    uint8_t element_buf[ PROCESS_BUFFER_SIZE ] = { 0 };
    if ( GNSSRTK5_OK == gnssrtk5_parse_gga( rsp, GNSSRTK5_GGA_LATITUDE, element_buf ) )
    {
        static uint8_t wait_for_fix_cnt = 0;
        if ( strlen( element_buf ) > 0 )
        {
            log_printf( &logger, "\r\n Latitude: %.2s degrees, %s minutes \r\n", element_buf, &element_buf[ 2 ] );
            memset( element_buf, 0, sizeof( element_buf ) );
            gnssrtk5_parse_gga( rsp, GNSSRTK5_GGA_LONGITUDE, element_buf );
            log_printf( &logger, " Longitude: %.3s degrees, %s minutes \r\n", element_buf, &element_buf[ 3 ] );
            memset( element_buf, 0, sizeof( element_buf ) );
            gnssrtk5_parse_gga( rsp, GNSSRTK5_GGA_ALTITUDE, element_buf );
            log_printf( &logger, " Altitude: %s m \r\n", element_buf );
            wait_for_fix_cnt = 0;
        }
        else
        {
            if ( wait_for_fix_cnt % 5 == 0 )
            {
                log_printf( &logger, " Waiting for the position fix...\r\n\n" );
                wait_for_fix_cnt = 0;
            }
            wait_for_fix_cnt++;
        }
        gnssrtk5_clear_app_buf(  );
    }
}

// ------------------------------------------------------------------------ END

Additional Support

Resources

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