Lightbug unveils Unattended RTK: Fully autonomous centimeter-level accuracy, no human oversight need

Unattended RTK © Lightbug

Unattended RTK © Lightbug

Lightbug, a UK-based leader in GPS trackers and IoT devices, is launching Unattended RTK on 25 November 2025, a first-of-its-kind autonomous real-time kinematic (RTK) solution that delivers centimeter-level positioning without human supervision. Launching alongside it, RH2, Lightbug's first device engineered specifically for Unattended RTK, combines rugged, long-lasting hardware with intelligent on-device processing, enabling precision GNSS for IoT deployments at scale.

A New Standard for RTK Technology

Traditional RTK systems require manual setup, calibration, and constant supervision, making them complex and costly to deploy. Lightbug's Unattended RTK operates fully autonomously, handling virtual base stations, rover corrections, data logging, data transfer, and SIM roaming automatically - delivering plug-and-play centimeter-level accuracy.

By combining RH2 hardware with advanced RTK correction services from Swift Navigation, the system achieves 1 cm accuracy in open sky and under 30 cm in challenging environments, while simplifying deployment and operations compared with traditional RTK setups. This opens high-precision positioning to industries where accuracy and operational efficiency are critical.

Key Features of RH2:

• Plug-and-play Operation: Fully functional out of the box with minimal configuration required
• Accuracy with Confidence: 1 cm in open sky; <30 cm in challenging conditions
• Edge Processing: Dual processors allow customers to run their own applications on-device
• Connectivity: Multiple radios including LoRa, Wi-Fi 6, UWB, LTE, and Bluetooth 5.3
• Battery Life: Extended operation of 50+ hours to support multi-day deployments
• Reliability: Skylark™ RTK corrections ensure data integrity at scale

Proven in Real-World Applications

The RH2 and Unattended RTK technology are already field-tested across diverse industries:

• Rail infrastructure: RH2 meets Network Rail's 300 mm accuracy standard, enhancing worker safety in rail corridors
• Professional sports: The same technology powers PGA Tour fan experiences with shot-by-shot precision, showing how centimeter-level RTK can deliver value in high-speed, dynamic environments.

Why It Matters

No other RTK solution combines centimeter-level accuracy, full autonomy, and effortless deployment. Traditional RTK, while precise, is often complex, labor-intensive, and costly to scale. Lightbug's Unattended RTK not only serves industries already using RTK, such as mining and worker safety, but also unlocks new applications - like professional sports arbitration and asset monitoring - where traditional RTK was previously impractical.

To learn more about Unattended RTK and RH2, visit lightbug.io/product/rtk-high-accuracy/lb-dev-rh2

Quote:

"Unattended RTK sets a new standard for IoT location technology," said Chris Guest, CEO of Lightbug. "Organizations will soon achieve unmatched precision without investing in complex infrastructure or human oversight."