Holybro H-RTK M8P High-Precision GPS Compass Module

H-RTK M8P is a differential high-precision GNSS positioning system from Holybro. It uses a UBLOX M8P module, a IST8310 compass and a tri-coloured LED indicator. It also has an integrated safety switch for a simple and convenient operation.

There are three models of the H-RTK M8P to choose from, each with different antenna design to suit different applications:

H-RTK M8P Rover lite

This model is lower cost, lightweight, and has high performance. It can meet the needs of general DIY users. Due to the lower cost, this model can also greatly minimise the cost of large swarm drone projects such as swarm light shows. It has a integrated safety switch and a tri-coloured LED indicator, and it is compatible with the open source Pixhawk series flight controller.

H-RTK M8P Helical

This model uses a helical antenna, which has better performance than the lite version. This model can be used both on rover (aircraft) or as base station. The aluminum alloy shell design also has a integrated safety switch and a tri-coloured LED indicator. It is compatible with the open source Pixhawk series flight controller.

H-RTK M8P Base

In this unit, the control board is the same as the Heical version above, but it is equipped with a high-gain antenna. This model is best suited to use as base station. The search speed and positioning accuracy are the highest among the three models.

Standalone GPS VS RTK GPS:

Standalone is the standard GNSS practice, also known as Single Point Positioning. While using this method, there are no error corrections made. The GNSS satellites just provide you with the best signals available with an accuracy of around 1-3 meters. Real Time Kinematic (RTK) increases the accuracy of GNSS/GPS systems to centimeter-level, by using a base-station receiver setup at a known location and a rover that gets the corrections from the base-station or a network of base stations. RTK has historically been used primarily by surveyors and others who required precise positioning, and were able to afford expensive RTK systems. Now Holybro makes this same functionality affordable to hobbyists and makers.

More info about implementing a RTK GPS setup on the PX4 flight controllers – HERE.

M8P Vs F9P GPS Series:

The Holybro H-RTK M8P GNSS is an RTK GNSS module for mass market by Holybro. This family is similar to the Holybro H-RTK F9P GNSS family but uses the smaller, lighter, and less expensive M8P Ublox RTK GNSS module which still provides far superior position resolution than previous generations.