Heading modules

Discover our selection of professional Heading RTK GNSS modules , engineered specifically for applications requiring absolute direction and millimeter-to-centimeter precision. Utilizing multi-band, dual-antenna moving baseline technology, these modules provide exceptional yaw, pitch, and roll data even when static. Ideal for structural monitoring, autonomous vehicle navigation, marine systems, and multi-rotor UAV guidance.

Subcategories:

mosaic-G5 P3H Dual Channel GNSS Receivers

Advanced Heading RTK GNSS Solutions for Unmanned Systems

Standard GNSS setups rely on movement to determine orientation, which fails completely when a platform is static or slow-moving. Our dual-antenna RTK GNSS heading modules solve this challenge by establishing a precise vector (moving baseline) between two antennas mounted on the same vehicle. This configuration delivers reliable, immune-to-magnetic-interference orientation alignment down to sub-degree accuracy.

Key Technical Advantages:

Multi-Constellation Support: Seamless integration of GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou tracking signals for high-density environments.
Moving Baseline RTK: Real-time carrier-phase measurements between the primary and secondary RTK engines deliver accurate heading without a fixed ground base station.
Industrial-Grade Reliability: Perfect for precise automated guidance in agriculture, autonomous maritime docking, and defense drone platforms.

Whether you are looking to integrate high-performance chips like the u-blox ZED-F9H or the powerful Unicore UM982 into your custom carrier board, GNSS Store offers developer-ready evaluation boards and OEM hardware with worldwide shipping and B2B wholesale pricing.

FAQ: Heading modules

What is a Heading RTK GNSS module?

A Heading RTK GNSS module is a dual-antenna receiver that delivers centimeter-level positioning accuracy while simultaneously computing the heading, pitch, and roll of a platform. Unlike a standard RTK receiver, it determines orientation by calculating the vector between two antennas — no magnetic compass required, making it immune to magnetic interference.

What is the difference between a Heading RTK module and a standard RTK GNSS receiver?

A standard RTK receiver outputs precise coordinates. A heading module uses two antennas and adds orientation data — heading, pitch, and roll — making it essential for applications where knowing which direction a platform faces matters as much as knowing where it is.

What heading accuracy can I expect from these modules?

Heading accuracy typically ranges from 0.1° to 0.4° RMS and depends on the baseline distance between the two antennas. The longer the baseline, the more precise the heading. Absolute position accuracy reaches 1–2 cm with active RTK corrections.

Which chipsets are available in this collection?

The collection covers modules built on U-blox ZED-F9H, U-blox ZED-X20P (all-band), Unicore UM982, Septentrio mosaic-H, and mosaic-G5 P3H. ZED-F9H offers a solid price-to-performance ratio for drone applications. UM982 is a high-performance dual-channel receiver at a competitive price. mosaic-H is a professional-grade receiver with Ethernet and PoE support.

What GNSS constellations do these modules support?

What GNSS constellations do these modules support? Most modules simultaneously track GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, and BeiDou. All-band modules such as the ZED-X20P also receive L1, L2, and L5 signals, which significantly improves reliability in urban canyons, under tree cover, or in other signal-degraded environments.

Which applications are Heading RTK modules designed for?

Primary use cases include UAVs and drones (compass-free stabilization and navigation), autonomous ground robots, self-driving vehicles, precision agriculture machinery with autopilot, surveying and mapping equipment, and marine drones. Modules with ADR/UDR support such as the NEO-M9V are also suited for urban navigation where GNSS signal may be temporarily lost.

Do these modules require an external RTK correction source to output heading?

No. The heading function operates autonomously — the two receivers compute orientation from their baseline vector without any external correction feed. RTK corrections from a base station or NTRIP/CORS service are only needed if you also want centimeter-level absolute position accuracy. Without corrections, the module still outputs heading while providing standard GNSS-level position accuracy.

What is the difference between ZED-F9H and UM982 for heading applications?

ZED-F9H is a proven U-blox chip with wide ecosystem support, extensive documentation, and reliable integration with popular autopilot platforms like ArduPilot and PX4. UM982 from Unicore is a newer dual-channel chip that offers comparable heading accuracy, supports more constellations simultaneously, and is available at a similar price point. UM982 is a strong choice when raw multi-constellation performance matters; ZED-F9H is preferred when ecosystem compatibility and software support are the priority.

Do these modules require a permanent RTK base station to get heading data?

No. To calculate relative heading, the module only needs satellite visibility for its two connected antennas (Moving Baseline mode). However, if you also require centimeter-level absolute position coordinates on Earth, you will need to feed external RTK corrections (via NTRIP or a local base station) to the primary antenna.