GY-521 MPU-6050 6-Axis IMU Module
6-axis inertial measurement unit combining a 3-axis accelerometer (±2/4/8/16g) and 3-axis gyroscope (±250-2000°/s) with onboard DMP. I2C interface, 3.3V/5V.
$8.50
Overview
The GY-521 is a breakout board for the InvenSense MPU-6050, one of the most widely used 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) sensors. It combines a 3-axis MEMS accelerometer and a 3-axis MEMS gyroscope with an onboard Digital Motion Processor (DMP) that can compute sensor fusion algorithms directly on-chip, offloading the host MCU.
Key Features
- 6-axis sensing: 3-axis accelerometer + 3-axis gyroscope
- Onboard DMP: Hardware sensor fusion for orientation/quaternion output
- Configurable ranges: Accelerometer ±2g to ±16g, gyroscope ±250 to ±2000°/s
- 16-bit ADC: High-resolution data output for each axis
- I2C interface: Up to 400 kHz, auxiliary I2C master for external magnetometer
- Wide voltage: 3.3V and 5V compatible via onboard regulator
- Interrupt pin: Configurable data-ready and motion detection interrupts
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Accelerometer range | ±2g, ±4g, ±8g, ±16g (selectable) |
| Gyroscope range | ±250, ±500, ±1000, ±2000 °/s (selectable) |
| ADC resolution | 16-bit per axis |
| I2C address | 0x68 (default) or 0x69 |
| Supply voltage | 3.3V–5V |
| Operating current | 3.9 mA typical |
| Temperature sensor | Built-in (-40°C to +85°C) |
Getting Started
Connect VCC, GND, SDA, and SCL to your microcontroller. The INT pin can be connected for interrupt-driven reading. Use the MPU6050 library for Arduino or the mpu6050 MicroPython driver.
Applications
- Drone and robot stabilization
- Motion tracking and gesture recognition
- Pedometer and activity tracking
- Tilt and vibration sensing
- Self-balancing robots
Use Cases
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Where to Buy
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