ARK Electronics X20 RTK GPS
Series: ARK Electronics RTK GNSS modules for drones
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The ARK X20 RTK GPS from US maker ARK Electronics is a DroneCAN RTK GNSS module for medium-class multicopters. It uses the all-band receiver u-blox ZED-X20P and adds a magnetometer, an IMU and a barometer. The module is built in the USA.
All-band means the receiver uses the signals of several bands at once and can remove the ionosphere precisely. It handles GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC and SBAS; according to ARK the firmware does not use GLONASS. The 0.6 cm figure belongs to the chip, not the module maker: for the ZED-X20P u-blox states 0.006 m + 1 ppm as CEP, the radius containing half of the measurements, without the distance term of 1 mm per kilometre from the base. At 25 Hz the output rate is among the fast ones. The compass is an ST IIS2MDC; the unit connects through two CAN ports, UART or I2C. It weighs 13 g without antenna and 43.5 g with antenna.
In operation, going without GLONASS means the correction data must contain Galileo and BeiDou, otherwise the receiver uses only part of its satellites. A stream from a reference network or your own base should therefore be checked for these systems before use. Legally the EU classes apply to the aircraft: from C1 upward geo-awareness and remote ID are mandatory and rest on the GNSS position, and the 30.5 g difference between bare module and module with antenna counts against the class limits (C0 below 250 g).
For selection, 25 Hz and all-band operation suit aircraft with high dynamics or demands on time to fix. Upkeep includes compass calibration after installation, CAN firmware matched to the autopilot version, an antenna with a ground plane well away from transmitters, and a look at the connectors after landings.
Technical data
Other data
| Chipset | u-blox ZED-X20Pcorrect |
|---|---|
| Compass | ST IIS2MDCcorrect |
| Constellations | ['GPS', 'Galileo', 'BeiDou', 'QZSS', 'NavIC', 'SBAS']correct |
| Frequency bands | All-bandcorrect |
| Horizontal accuracy (cm) | 0.6correct |
| Interfaces | 2x CAN, UART, I2Ccorrect |
| RTK capable | yescorrect |
| Update rate (Hz) | 25correct |
| Weight (g) | 13correct |
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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