Background information
Drone the sixth - at last!
by Manuel Wenk
Drones, robots, cameras – they all have this Swiss chip
19.8.2025
Lawnmower robots, drones, action cams and animal trackers: all of these products contain a GPS chip from u-blox in Thalwil (Zurich). However, hardly anyone outside the industry knows about this Swiss market leader.
Drones come from China, robotic lawnmowers from Sweden and action cams from the US – in Switzerland, we’re used to gadgets coming from abroad. And yet, thousands of products also contain a piece of Swissness: namely a chip from u-blox, as I learn during a visit to the company’s headquarters in Thalwil on Lake Zurich.
The collaboration with Husqvarna is public. This Swedish manufacturer relies on the Swiss supplier for its robotic lawnmowers.
So the gadget knows where it is
But what exactly does u-blox do? The manufacturer with around 800 employees builds what’s commonly known as a GPS module. These are chips that can determine exact positions with the help of satellites.
However, the Global Positioning System (GPS) is only one of the satellite systems used, namely the one from the US. The modules also access all kinds of systems from Europe, Asia and all over the world. That’s why GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) is actually the correct term.
An accuracy of ten centimetres is easily possible in the current generation. The top model from u-blox even achieves an accuracy of less than 1 cm. «The next generation should then achieve 0.6 cm. It’s already been announced and will go into production this year,» explains Arnaud Le Lannic.
Manufactured in Europe
But why is a Swiss company so successful in this field, and, according to its own statement, the market leader today? «The quality and durability of our products are highly valued,» says the Director of Product Management.
u-blox was founded in 1997 as a spin-off from ETH Zurich and was one of the pioneers of GNSS modules. Today, there are around five to ten suppliers in this field, compared to 3,000 to 5,000 companies that install these chips in their devices. According to Arnaud, the price differences for the modules aren’t great. Competition is based on features and quality.
Perhaps this is precisely why the Swiss company can hold its own. However, u-blox is incredibly international. The large research and development department is located in Thalwil and at a second site in Finland. The chip is manufactured in Germany and partially tested in Asia before modules are then assembled at sites in Europe.
Header image: U-Blox
Lorenz Keller
Senior Editor
Lorenz.Keller@digitecgalaxus.chGadgets are my passion - whether you need them for the home office, for the household, for sport and pleasure or for the smart home. Or, of course, for the big hobby next to the family, namely fishing.
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