GY-521 MPU-6050 3-AXIS Accelerometer And Gyroscope Sensor

GY-521 MPU-6050 3-Axis Accelerometer and Gyroscope Sensor is a compact, high-precision motion tracking device that integrates a 3-axis MEMS gyroscope, a 3-axis MEMS accelerometer, and a Digital Motion Processor (DMP) all onto a single chip. This modular breakout board, consequently, simplifies the integration of complex 6-axis motion sensing into a wide array of projects, ranging from drone stabilization to human interface devices. The MPU-6050 efficiently processes the raw data internally, reducing the burden on the host microcontroller, while its use of the standard I²C communication protocol ensures seamless interfacing with platforms like Arduino and Raspberry Pi. Therefore, developers choose the GY-521 module for applications that demand accurate, real-time sensing of orientation, velocity, and gravitational forces.

Key Features:

• Integrated 6-Axis Sensing: Combines a 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope into a single 4x4x0.9 mm package, significantly minimizing board footprint.
• Digital Motion Processor (DMP): Features an on-chip DMP engine that offloads computation of complex motion fusion algorithms, like the Kalman filter, from the main microcontroller.
• Wide Measurement Range: Offers user-programmable accelerometer full-scale ranges of ±2g, ±4g, ±8g, and ±16g, and gyroscope full-scale ranges of ±250°/s, ±500°/s, ±1000°/s, and ±2000°/s.
• I²C Communication: Uses a standard two-wire I²C interface for data transmission, operating at speeds up to 400 kHz.
• On-Board Voltage Regulation: The GY-521 breakout board includes a voltage regulator, allowing it to interface directly with both 3.3V and 5V microcontrollers.

Technical Specifications:

• Input Voltage (VCC): 3 V to 5 V DC (Supported by the on-board regulator)
• Digital Interface: I²C Communication Protocol
• Accelerometer Resolution: 16-bit ADC output
• Gyroscope Resolution: 16-bit ADC output
• Gyroscope Range (FS): User selectable up to ±2000 °/s
• Accelerometer Range (FS): User selectable up to ±16 g
• Operating Current: Typically 3.8 mA (Active mode)
• Sampling Rate: Up to 1 kHz for the gyroscope output.

Mechanical Specifications:

• Sensor IC: InvenSense MPU-6050
• Output: Digital (X, Y, Z axis data for both Accel and Gyro)
• Mounting: PCB module with 2.54 mm (0.1 in) pin headers.
• Internal Temperature Sensor: Includes a built-in temperature sensor for drift compensation.

Dimensions:

• Module Board Size: ≈ 20 mm x 15 mm
• Pin Header Pitch: 2.54 mm (Standard)
• Weight: ≈ 2 g (Ultra-lightweight for aerial and wearable projects)

Pinout and Wiring:

• VCC: Power supply pin (3 V to 5 V input).
• GND: Ground reference pin.
• SCL: I²C Serial Clock Line. Connect to the host MCU’s SCL pin.
• SDA: I²C Serial Data Line. Connect to the host MCU’s SDA pin.
• XDA/XCL: Auxiliary I²C pins (Used for connecting external magnetometer or other sensors).
• ADO (Address Pin): I²C Slave Address Select pin. Pull high or low to select the primary I²C address (0x68 or 0x69).
• INT: Interrupt output pin. Triggers an interrupt signal to the host MCU on programmed events.

Datasheet Reference:

• Download InvenSense MPU-6050 Datasheet

Commonly Used in:

• RC Vehicles & Drones: Providing stability control, attitude estimation, and flight telemetry for multi-rotor and fixed-wing aircraft.
• Wearable Technology: Tracking motion, activity, and orientation in smart watches and fitness trackers.
• Robotics: Handling self-balancing tasks, navigation, and dead reckoning for autonomous robots.

Applications:

• Inertial Navigation Systems (INS): Calculating position and orientation when GPS is unavailable or unreliable.
• Virtual Reality (VR) Controllers: Providing low-latency head and hand tracking data for immersive experiences.
• Gesture Recognition: Interpreting specific hand or body movements to trigger actions in devices.
• Impact Detection: Monitoring sudden acceleration for safety systems and data logging.

Equivalent Models:

• MPU-9250 (InvenSense): An upgraded 9-axis sensor that adds an integrated 3-axis magnetometer, furthermore expanding its capabilities for absolute heading.
• BMI160 (Bosch): A high-performance, low-power inertial measurement unit (IMU) offering similar 6-axis functionality and widely used as an alternative.
• LSM9DS1 (STMicroelectronics): A full 9-axis IMU (3D accelerometer, 3D gyroscope, 3D magnetometer) that serves as a robust cross-reference.

Package Includes:

• 1 x GY-521 MPU-6050 3-Axis Accelerometer and Gyroscope Sensor Module
• 1 x Set of 8-Pin Headers