Quectel Named Exclusive RTK Positioning and Connectivity Supplier for Pudu Robotics GT Series
With the German launch of Pudu Robotics' GT series commercial mower, Quectel's LG290P/LG580P RTK modules along with RTKHOLD technology and global RTK correction services became the series' exclusive positioning and connectivity supplier — hard evidence of centimeter-level positioning in outdoor robotics at volume.
On 15 September 2026, PUDU Robotics unveiled its GT series commercial lawn-mowing robots at GaLaBau 2026 in Nuremberg, Germany, with the GT3, GT5 and GT7 shown together for the first time. Quectel supplies the positioning foundation for all three — RTK high-precision positioning modules plus an RTK correction service — along with cellular modules, Wi-Fi modules and high-performance antennas, making Quectel the exclusive global supplier of positioning and connectivity for the GT series. This is a rare, directly citable production case for outdoor robotics.
In Commercial Mowing, Precision Is Everything
Moving robots from structured indoor settings to unpredictable outdoor terrain raises the difficulty sharply. For a commercial mower, autonomous, efficient and safe operation across large lawns with frequent signal obstruction depends on high-precision, high-reliability real-time positioning.
The GT series covers B2B landscaping scenarios from campuses and parks to golf courses, with each model demanding something different. The GT3 must move flexibly through grounds where lawn meets hard paving. The GT5 covers roughly 65,000 square metres on a single charge with edge-tracking accuracy held within 10 centimetres. The GT7 is specified for RTK positioning accuracy up to 2.5 centimetres, a minimum cutting height of just 5 millimetres, and uniform striping on golf fairways. The larger the lawn, the harder precision becomes — and that is exactly where RTK module selection is decided.
Two Modules, Two Distinct Roles: LG290P and LG580P
PUDU assigns the positioning task to two Quectel high-precision modules, tiered by model:
- LG290P (GT3, GT5): a low-power, compact module supporting all constellations and all frequency bands, with 1,040 tracking channels and professional-grade interference detection and mitigation, paired with a new-generation RTK engine delivering 20 Hz real-time solutions and horizontal accuracy held within 2 centimetres.
- LG580P (GT7): adds dual-antenna capability on top of the same family, supporting both 20 Hz RTK positioning and dual-antenna heading. With RTK plus heading algorithms, horizontal accuracy is 0.8 cm + 1 ppm, vertical accuracy 1.5 cm + 1 ppm, and heading accuracy 0.1°.
Two measurement conventions should be kept apart. Quectel's official announcement states horizontal accuracy within 2 cm for the LG290P, while module datasheet-level figures published by distributors and technical documentation give RTK horizontal accuracy of 0.8 cm + 1 ppm, vertical 1.5 cm + 1 ppm, RTK convergence around 5 seconds and a maximum update rate of 20 Hz. Within the same family, the LG580P trades an extra antenna for 0.1° heading and tighter positioning — the difference that lets the GT7 handle fine turf maintenance and fairway striping.
RTKHOLD and the Global RTK Correction Service: Keeping Centimetres Reliable
Accuracy has to be matched by availability. Signal obstruction and RTCM interruptions are routine outdoors, and the GT series gets its stability from two mechanisms. The first is RTKHOLD, Quectel's in-house technology integrated into both modules, which preserves positioning accuracy and availability through short weak-signal or RTCM-disconnection windows (published module documentation indicates centimetre-level accuracy can be retained for up to about 10 minutes after a connection loss); it also reduces data traffic consumption and the associated cost. The second is Quectel's RTK correction service, which streams high-precision differential data from a global reference-station network so the robots hold stable accuracy anywhere.
Together, the combination keeps the GT series at continuous, stable centimetre-level positioning under tree cover, over undulating ground and along walls — no boundary violations, no missed strips.
Three Considerations When Selecting Positioning for Outdoor Robots
- Separate module-level and system-level accuracy. A robot's headline figure (2.5 cm for the GT7) includes mounting, antenna layout and motion-control error; the module figure is only the floor. Ask for both.
- Decide whether heading is required. A single-antenna module answers "where am I"; a dual-antenna module also answers "which way am I facing". For strict straight-line work, multi-robot coordination or tight turn control, heading is often worth more than another decimal place of position accuracy.
- Price the correction service and data cost together. RTK operation depends on continuous differential data; traffic and network coverage are recurring costs. Hold-over capability such as RTKHOLD changes that bill directly, so compare total cost of ownership rather than module unit price alone.
HSY Perspective
HSY represents Quectel in this region, and we treat this announcement as a reference case for outdoor robotics customers. Three practical points follow.
Tier the modules by model rather than specifying the top part across the range. PUDU's approach is instructive: volume mid-range machines run the single-antenna LG290P (20 Hz, centimetre-level horizontal accuracy, low power, compact), while only the flagship facing fairway striping and a 5 mm minimum cut height carries the dual-antenna LG580P. Performance is protected without inflating the BOM.
Evaluate the RTK correction service together with the module. Quectel delivers module plus RTKHOLD plus global correction service as a package, so service coverage, the differential-data link over cellular, and the subscription structure should be confirmed at design-in stage — not discovered after volume production. HSY can bring samples, evaluation boards and correction-service activation into a single track with Quectel's positioning teams.
Plan connectivity in the same pass. Besides the positioning modules, the GT series also uses Quectel cellular modules, Wi-Fi modules and high-performance antennas. OEMs looking to reduce supplier count and align certification and delivery schedules can settle positioning and connectivity in one selection cycle; HSY supports the full chain from stock to technical assistance.
Sources: Quectel, "Quectel x PUDU Robotics: Centimetre-Level Precision for Commercial Mowers" (https://www.quectel.com.cn/news-and-pr/pudu-gt-series-mowers, 15 Sep 2026); PR Newswire Asia, same release (https://www.prnasia.com/story/548259-1.shtml, 17 Sep 2026); published Quectel LG290P / LG580P module specifications including distributor technical documentation (September 2026)