Designing wearable or ultra-compact IoT devices with LoRa and GPS is challenging because most available modules are large, expensive, and separate. Using individual LoRa and GPS modules increases PCB size, wiring complexity, power consumption, and overall BOM cost. This makes it difficult to build sleek wearables, trackers, or small IoT devices, especially when integrating with boards like Arduino, ESP, nRF, or compact platforms such as IndusBoard Coin.
This project introduces a coin-sized (3 cm) open-source LoRa + GPS module that integrates both long-range communication and precise location tracking into a single compact design. The module connects seamlessly to IndusBoard Coin via an FPC cable and also supports standard I/O pin connections for Arduino, ESP, nRF, and other boards. By combining the Quectel L86-M33 GPS and Ai-Thinker RA-02 LoRa modules, it delivers high performance while drastically reducing size and integration effort.
Key Features
- Ultra-compact 3 cm coin-sized form factor
- Integrated LoRa + GPS in a single module
- Designed for wearables and space-constrained IoT devices
- FPC connector for direct integration with IndusBoard Coin
- Standard I/O pin access for Arduino, ESP, nRF, and others
- GPS communication via USART and LoRa via SPI
- Very low power consumption (≈1 mA standby)
- External antenna support for long-range LoRa communication
- Fully open-source hardware with schematics, PCB, and BOM
- Free for commercial use when paired with IndusBoard Coin
Applications
- Wearable GPS trackers and smart wristbands
- Asset and personnel tracking systems
- Wildlife and environmental monitoring
- Smart agriculture and remote sensing
- Low-power IoT communication nodes
- Prototyping compact LoRa-based location devices
This tiny LoRa + GPS module proves that powerful connectivity and precise location tracking don’t need bulky hardware. By combining open-source design, ultra-compact form factor, and flexible compatibility, it simplifies the creation of next-generation wearables and IoT devices. Whether you’re a startup, hobbyist, or product designer, this module removes the biggest barriers to building sleek, long-range, location-aware systems.