GY-521 MPU-6050 Module GY- 3 Axis Acceleration Gyroscope 6 DOF Module (Original chip)-Yellow Tantalum Capacitor

SKU: FA2012-0
Operating Voltage

3V to 5V DC (onboard LDO regulator)
Communication Interface

I2C (up to 400kHz)
Gyroscope Range

±250, ±500, ±1000, ±2000 °/sec
Accelerometer Range

±2g, ±4g, ±8g, ±16g
ADC Resolution

16-bit (for all 6 axes)
Filtering

Yellow Tantalum Capacitors (Low Noise)
I2C Address

0x68 (Default) / 0x69 (via AD0 pin)
Dimensions

20mm x 15.5mm
The GY-521 MPU-6050 Module is a high-performance 6-axis MotionTracking device that combines a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer on a single silicon die. This specific version features an original MPU-6050 chip and high-quality yellow tantalum capacitors for superior power filtering and signal stability, making it the gold standard for DIY robotics, drones, and professional motion-sensing applications.
Product Description
The GY-521 MPU-6050 is a comprehensive 6-Degree of Freedom (6-DOF) sensor module. At its core is the MPU-6050, which features three 16-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for digitizing the gyroscope outputs and three 16-bit ADCs for digitizing the accelerometer outputs. This allows for simultaneous tracking of both rotational and linear motion with high precision.
To ensure professional-grade reliability, this module is equipped with yellow tantalum capacitors. Unlike cheaper ceramic alternatives, tantalum capacitors provide exceptionally low ESR (Equivalent Series Resistance) and stable capacitance over a wide temperature range, significantly reducing electronic noise and drift in the sensor data. The module also includes an onboard Digital Motion Processor (DMP), capable of processing complex 9-axis MotionFusion algorithms. This offloads the intensive computation from the main microcontroller, allowing even simple boards like an Arduino to handle complex orientation sensing (Euler angles or Quaternions) with ease.
Key Features
  • Original MPU-6050 Silicon: Ensures full compatibility with standard libraries and reliable calibration.
  • Enhanced Stability: Features yellow tantalum capacitors for improved power filtering and reduced sensor noise.
  • Integrated DMP: Internal Digital Motion Processor handles complex motion algorithms internally.
  • 6-Axis Sensing: 3-axis angular rate sensor (gyro) and 3-axis accelerometer in one package.
  • Auxiliary I2C Bus: Can interface with external sensors (like a magnetometer) to create a full 9-axis system.
  • Built-in Temperature Sensor: Provides ambient temperature data for thermal compensation.
  • Compact GY-521 Form Factor: Standard pinout for easy integration into breadboards and custom PCBs.
Usage
The GY-521 is commonly used in applications requiring precise orientation or motion detection:
  1. Self-Balancing Robots: Uses the gyroscope to maintain upright stability.
  2. Drones/UAVs: Provides essential flight stabilization data.
  3. Human-Machine Interface: Creating gesture-controlled controllers or wearable motion trackers.
  4. Gaming/VR: Low-latency tracking of head or hand movements.
  5. Data Logging: Measuring G-forces in automotive or sports impact testing
Q: Why does this module use yellow tantalum capacitors?

Tantalum capacitors provide much cleaner power to the sensor chip. This results in less “jitter” in the raw data and better long-term stability, which is critical for precision tasks like drone flight.

Q: How do I connect this to an Arduino or ESP32?

Connect VCC to 5V (or 3.3V), GND to GND, and the SCL/SDA pins to your controller’s I2C pins. For Arduino Uno, these are A5 (SCL) and A4 (SDA).

Q: Can I use two of these modules on the same I2C bus?

Yes. The default I2C address is 0x68. By pulling the AD0 pin HIGH (to VCC), the address changes to 0x69, allowing two sensors to coexist.

Q: Is the sensor data already calibrated?

No. Like all MEMS sensors, the MPU-6050 should be calibrated in its final mounting position to account for offset errors. Most Arduino MPU-6050 libraries include a calibration sketch.

Q: Can this detect "North" (Compass heading)?

No. This is a 6-DOF sensor (Accel/Gyro). To detect a magnetic heading, you would need to connect an external magnetometer (like the HMC5883L) to the module’s auxiliary I2C pins.

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