Case studies

The Friend-Finding Compass

Totem and u-blox navigate the future of human connection.  

totem compass

When Chase Lemonds, Co-founder and CTO of Totem Inc, found himself lost in a sprawling music festival and his phone stolen, he realized just how disconnected a reliance on smartphones can leave us in moments when connection matters most. The experience became the spark for Totem’s mission: to create technology that helps people find their way back to each other and rediscover the joy of shared experiences.  

As Carter Fowler, Co-founder and CEO of Totem explains: "Today’s world is increasingly crowded, with growing population densities and larger public events. At the same time, cellular networks, particularly in the US, are struggling to meet demand. For us, this created a perfect opportunity to innovate. We wanted to sidestep reliance on cell networks altogether and deliver a reliable solution for human connection."  

In bringing this vision to life, Totem faced several unique challenges:  

 

Challenge #1: size  

Totem needed a positioning solution that was small enough to fit seamlessly into their 50mmx15mm product, while still delivering top-tier performance.  

Challenge #2: position accuracy  

The solution had to provide single-meter-level accuracy to ensure effective navigation and deliver a user experience that felt intuitive and reliable. It also needed to secure a satellite fix in under 3 minutes to meet user expectations.  

Challenge #3: RF interference  

The design required exceptional protection against RF interference, including interference from other components in the Compass due to the small form factor, to maintain high performance in crowded and interference-heavy environments.  

Totem’s first attempts with microwave direction finding technology and lower-cost GNSS options from other providers proved disappointing. These modules struggled with long fix times, imprecise positioning, and a lack of robust technical support. For a product meant to guide people with single-meter-level accuracy in dynamic environments, these limitations were insurmountable.  

 


Solution: u-blox MAX-M10S - small, powerful, and precise 

Discovering u-blox changed everything. The MAX-M10S GNSS module offers a quad-constellation receiver that delivers single-meter-level accuracy, rapid time-to-first-fix, and excellent RF interference-rejection algorithms. Notably, the MAX-M10S excels even in environments with significant interference and multipath errors, such as metal-rich festival grounds and urban canyons. Configuration was a breeze thanks to u-blox’s user-friendly u-center 2 software, which streamlined development timelines, evaluation, and bug fixing.  

"I remember how drastically the MAX module impacted the development timelines, and the project as a whole," Carter recalls. “Once we saw its performance, we never looked back.”  

During development, the technical documentation, forums, and community support from u-blox proved invaluable. The open software enabled Totem to innovate without barriers, aligning with their ethos of making technology accessible to everyone. And the end result of the process was the Totem Compass: a minimalist navigation device designed for simplicity and reliability.  

Each Totem Compass is paired with up to four other Totem Compasses and uses a simple light-based interface to show you the direction and relative distance of each paired compass from where you are at that moment. The direction updates in real time as you move towards the person you're looking for, and the interface shows you when you have reached their position.  

With the ability to get a satellite fix within 2.5 minutes (and often in as little as 30 seconds in good conditions), single-meter-level accuracy, and noise-reduction features, the Totem Compass helps users find what's most important to them effortlessly, with no subscription fees and no app to distract you from the world around you.  

One standout feature is its SOS functionality. Users can press a button to alert all the Totem Compasses they are connected to that they need assistance, giving users an added layer of safety.  

MAX-M10S

Results: Delivering the power of connection

The partnership with u-blox enabled Totem to deliver a product that exceeded expectations. The Totem Compass performs exceptionally well in challenging environments, from open-air festivals to arenas and even in dense urban settings. Its precision and reliability allow users to reconnect with loved ones, even in the most chaotic festival scenarios. 

"Totem Compass even works well in covered environments like tents and arenas," Chase adds. "We initially chose microwave technology because of its potential for indoor use cases, and when we switched to GNSS we thought we were trading that capability to meet our other needs. The performance of the u-blox module, though, has meant we've not had to sacrifice anything." 

The impact of the Totem Compass extended beyond festivals. Families embraced it as a way to keep track of their children during outdoor adventures. Enthusiasts found it invaluable for activities like snowboarding, hunting, and even search and rescue. A viral video showcasing the Totem Compass in action—used for a game of hide-and-seek in an urban environment—garnered over 10 million views, demonstrating the product’s wide-ranging appeal.

"We often see uninformed comments online on our videos alleging that our tech simply isn't possible," Carter says, "which just goes to show the power of what we've built. In some ways - getting a GPS fix in particular - Totem Compass beats out major GPS watches that are far more expensive. We're proud to have achieved that in partnership with u-blox." 

visual presenting the inside of totem compass

The future 

Totem is now nearing completion of shipping over 20,000 pre-orders for the Totem Compass. As they transition into full-scale production, they have discovered a global market for Totem Compass that they never even suspected. 

"We made the Totem Compass for those rare moments - as we thought - where cell signal is poor," Carter reflects. "But we've seen people in developing countries where cell service is poor or nonexistent everywhere adopting Totem Compass for an enormous range of uses. It's been a true eye-opener." 

Looking ahead, Totem is already exploring new frontiers. They are developing a companion product as well as several accessories. With even smaller form factors in mind, the team is considering u-blox’s NINA-W106 and MIA-M10Q modules for their energy efficiency and compact design. 

Guiding People Back to What Matters 

The Totem Compass is more than just a navigation tool; it’s a catalyst for real human connection in an increasingly crowded and screen-absorbed world. With u-blox’s MAX-M10S at its core, the Totem Compass empowers users to rediscover the joy of shared experiences, whether at a festival, on a snowy mountain, or during a family adventure. 

As Totem looks to the future, the team’s partnership with u-blox remains a cornerstone of their mission. Together, we are proving that technology can bring people closer to what truly matters. As Chase says, "this is just the start of a long and exciting partnership between Totem and u-blox."