MPU-6050 GY-52 6DOF IMU Module – 3-Axis Gyroscope + 3-Axis Accelerometer for Robotics/Drones

SKU: FA2012-1
Sensor Chip

MPU-6050
Supply Voltage

3.0V – 5.0V DC
Communication Interface

I2C Digital Interface (400kHz max)
Resolution

16-bit ADC for all axes
I2C Address

0x68 (Default), 0x69 (selectable via AD0 pin)
Module Dimensions

Approx. 20mm x 16mm
The MPU-6050 GY-52 6DOF IMU Module is a powerful and integrated sensor board that provides 6 Degrees of Freedom (6DOF) motion tracking by combining a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer on a single chip. This versatile module is essential for applications in robotics, drones, virtual reality, and human-machine interfaces.
Product Description
The GY-52 6DOF IMU Module is built around the highly popular MPU-6050 integrated circuit, a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) device that captures highly accurate data regarding an object’s movement and orientation. It simultaneously measures angular velocity (rotation) with its gyroscope and linear acceleration (G-force) along the X, Y, and Z axes.
Designed for ease of integration, the module includes an onboard low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator, enabling it to operate safely with both 3.3V and 5V power sources, making it compatible with virtually all standard microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino Uno, Raspberry Pi, ESP32). Communication is handled via the simple and efficient I2C interface, minimizing pin usage.
A key feature is the integrated Digital Motion Processor (DMP), which can offload intensive sensor fusion calculations from the host microcontroller, allowing for efficient determination of complex orientation (pitch, roll, yaw). This makes the GY-52 module the foundational component for building stable drones, self-balancing robots, and gesture-controlled devices.
Key Features
  • 6 Degrees of Freedom: Combines a 3-axis gyroscope and a 3-axis accelerometer in a single package.
  • Wide Operating Voltage: Onboard regulator supports 3V to 5V power input.
  • 16-Bit Resolution: High-precision Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) provide detailed, noise-resistant data.
  • Integrated DMP: Internal processor handles complex algorithms like MotionFusion to reduce microcontroller workload.
  • Standard I2C Communication: Easy 2-wire digital interface for seamless integration.
  • Auxiliary I2C Bus: Allows attachment of external sensors, such as a magnetometer (compass), to achieve full 9-DOF functionality.
  • Onboard Temperature Sensor: Integrated ambient temperature measurement for thermal compensation.
Typical Usage
The MPU-6050 is a cornerstone sensor for a variety of motion-related projects:
  1. Flight Stabilization: The primary sensor for entry-level to advanced multi-rotor drone flight controllers.
  2. Robotics: Providing orientation feedback for self-balancing robots and bipedal walking robots.
  3. Gesture Recognition: Interpreting human motion for input devices or interaction controls.
  4. Data Logging: Capturing vibration or impact data in various environments.
  5. Wearable Tech: Measuring movement in fitness trackers or medical monitoring devices.
Q: What is the difference between a 6DOF and a 9DOF module?

A 6DOF module (like this one) has an accelerometer and a gyroscope. A 9DOF adds a 3-axis magnetometer (compass) to determine absolute orientation relative to the Earth’s magnetic field. You can connect an external compass to this board if needed.

Q: Can I connect this directly to my 5V Arduino Uno?

Yes. The module has an onboard voltage regulator and the I2C pins use logic levels compatible with 3.3V and 5V systems.

Q: Do I need special libraries to use this with Arduino?

Yes, you will need a library (such as the Adafruit MPU6050 library or Jeff Rowberg’s MPU6050 library) to easily communicate with the sensor and interpret the data.

Q: Is the sensor data stable right away, or does it drift?

Gyroscopes naturally experience “drift” over time (errors accumulate). Using sensor fusion algorithms (often via the internal DMP or software libraries) that combine accelerometer data helps minimize this drift and provide stable orientation data

Q: Can I use multiple MPU-6050 modules on the same I2C bus?

Yes, you can use two modules simultaneously. The default I2C address is 0x68. By connecting the AD0 pin to the VCC line, the address changes to 0x69 for the second sensor

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