Open Source GPS Tracker: Full Hardware & Firmware Transparency

Every Schematic. Every PCB Trace. Every Line of Firmware. Publicly Available.

In an industry where most GPS tracker manufacturers treat their hardware and software as trade secrets, nolilab takes the opposite approach. Loko GPS Tracker is fully open source — meaning every circuit schematic, every PCB layout file, and every line of firmware running on the device is published publicly on GitHub.

You do not have to trust Loko. You can verify it.

This page explains what nolilab has published, why it matters, and how makers, developers, and power users can take advantage of the open-source nature of Loko.

What Open Source Means for GPS Trackers

Open source hardware and firmware means that the design files for the physical device and the code that runs on it are publicly available under a license that permits inspection, modification, and redistribution.

For a GPS tracker specifically, this has profound implications:

No hidden data collection: You can read the firmware and verify that the device does not transmit your location to anyone except who you authorize
No black-box security vulnerabilities: Security researchers can audit the code and responsibly disclose any vulnerabilities
No vendor lock-in: If nolilab ever discontinued support, the community could continue maintaining the firmware independently
Customizability: Developers can modify the firmware to suit specialized use cases — different update intervals, custom sensors, alternative protocols
Community improvements: Users with engineering expertise contribute bug fixes, features, and optimizations back to the project

Most commercial GPS tracker manufacturers publish nothing. You cannot see what the firmware is doing, whether your data is being stored, or how the radio protocol is implemented. With Loko, there are no secrets.

What nolilab Has Published on GitHub

The nolilab GitHub repository contains the full set of files needed to understand, build, and modify Loko:

tomipiriyev/Loko — GitHub Repository

All Loko project files — hardware schematics, PCB layouts, firmware, BOM, and app source — are published in a single public repository.

View on GitHub →

Hardware Schematics

Complete electrical schematics for both Loko Air and Loko Ground. Every component, every connection, every pin assignment. Annotated with component values, part numbers, and design rationale comments.

PCB Layout Files

Full PCB design files in open formats, including Gerber files ready for submission to PCB fabrication services. Layer stackup, copper pours, via sizes, and component placement are all included. You can order bare PCBs from any fabrication house with these files.

Bill of Materials (BOM)

Complete BOM listing every component with manufacturer part numbers, specifications, and suggested alternative sources. Includes passive components, ICs, connectors, the GPS module, LoRa radio module, and microcontroller.

Firmware Source Code

Complete firmware written in C/C++, covering GPS acquisition, LoRa transmission scheduling, power management (sleep modes), Bluetooth communication with the app, and GPS constellation configuration (GPS/GLONASS/Galileo).

App Source Code

The iOS and Android app source code, including offline map rendering, Bluetooth communication protocol, and the LoRa packet parsing logic.

Why Open Source Matters for GPS Hardware

The question of trust is especially important for location-tracking devices. A GPS tracker knows where you are at all times — or where your pet, child, or valuables are. That is sensitive information.

With proprietary trackers, you are making a pure faith assumption: that the manufacturer only sends your location data to you, does not retain historical location records on their servers, does not sell location data to third parties, and that their firmware has no exploitable security vulnerabilities.

With Loko, you do not need faith. The firmware is auditable. The hardware is auditable. The communication protocol is documented. The LoRa P2P (peer-to-peer) architecture means location data travels only from Loko Air to Loko Ground — it is never sent to nolilab's servers at all.

Loko is technically incapable of sending your location to nolilab's servers — not because nolilab promises not to, but because the radio protocol does not involve the internet at any step. The open firmware proves this.

How Makers and Developers Use Loko

The open-source nature of Loko has attracted an active community of hardware enthusiasts and developers who have extended the platform in creative ways:

Custom update intervals: Some users modify the firmware to transmit every 1 second for high-speed drone recovery, or every 5 minutes for long-duration wildlife research to extend battery life further
Additional sensors: Developers have added temperature sensors, accelerometers, and barometric pressure sensors to the Loko Air hardware for environmental monitoring applications
LoRaWAN integration: The LoRa radio can be reconfigured to communicate with LoRaWAN gateways instead of a dedicated Loko Ground receiver — useful for fixed infrastructure deployments
Custom enclosures: 3D-printable enclosure designs have been contributed by the community for specific mounting applications — drone mounts, waterproof cases, collar attachments
Third-party app integrations: The documented Bluetooth protocol allows developers to build their own apps that receive Loko data — integrations with Home Assistant, Node-RED, and custom mapping platforms exist

If you have a specific use case that the stock Loko firmware does not support, the open-source architecture means you can implement it yourself without waiting for nolilab to prioritize it.

Build vs Buy: Your Options with Loko

Option	Cost	Time Required	Skill Required	Best For
Buy from nolilab	Hardware price	Minutes to set up	None — plug and play	Most users
Build from files (DIY)	Component cost (BOM)	10–20 hours	PCB assembly, soldering	Makers, hobbyists
Build + customize firmware	Component cost	20–50+ hours	Embedded C/C++ programming	Developers, researchers
Fork and create a variant	Design + fabrication	100+ hours	PCB design + firmware	Companies, product teams

The vast majority of users will buy the pre-built device — not because building is forbidden, but because nolilab's manufacturing quality, calibrated firmware, and tested hardware are worth more than the component cost savings. The open-source files exist to enable trust and extensibility, not to undermine the commercial product.

Open Source GPS Tracker: FAQ

Is Loko truly open source — hardware and firmware?

Yes. Nolilab has published the full hardware schematics, PCB layout files, and firmware source code. You can inspect every component selection, trace every circuit decision, and read every line of code that runs on the device. Nothing is hidden or obfuscated.

Can I build my own Loko GPS tracker from the open-source files?

Yes. All the files you need to manufacture your own Loko hardware are publicly available — PCB Gerber files, BOM (bill of materials), and firmware. If you have experience with PCB fabrication and SMD assembly, you can build the tracker yourself. Nolilab also sells pre-built, tested units for those who prefer a ready-to-use device.

What license is the Loko hardware and firmware published under?

The hardware and firmware are published for personal use only. Commercial use is not permitted without explicit written permission from nolilab. See the full license at github.com/tomipiriyev/Loko.

Can I modify Loko firmware to customize update intervals or add sensors?

Yes. The firmware is written in C/C++ and is fully documented. Developers can modify GPS update intervals, adjust LoRa transmission parameters, add support for additional sensors, change power management behaviour, or implement custom protocols. The open firmware is one of Loko's most powerful features for technical users.

Why does nolilab open-source the hardware if they also sell it?

Nolilab believes transparency builds trust. By publishing all hardware and firmware publicly, users can verify that Loko does exactly what it claims — no hidden tracking, no secret data collection, no black-box firmware. The community also contributes improvements back to the project. Nolilab competes on manufacturing quality, support, and the complete product experience — not on keeping designs secret.

Loko is the only GPS tracker where you can read the full source code, inspect every circuit, and verify every claim. No secrets. No lock-in. Full transparency.

Open source hardware. Open source firmware. Built for trust.

View the firmware source at nolilab.com/firmware or shop the complete Loko system below.

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