Hardware
MPU-6050
6-axis IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope)
Audio summary
MPU-6050
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6-axis IMU (accelerometer + gyroscope) over I2C, with a DMP for motion fusion.
The MPU-6050 combines accelerometer and gyroscope on a chip with a motion processor (DMP) that can fuse both to output orientation without taxing the microcontroller. The GY-521 board makes it trivial to wire.
It's the classic entry point to motion sensing (drones, stabilization, fall detection, gestures). For serious projects, its successors (MPU-6500, 9-axis ICM-20948) offer lower noise and a magnetometer.
Pros
- Accelerometer + gyroscope + DMP on one chip
- Dirt-cheap, libraries everywhere
- Ready-to-use GY-521 board
Cons
- No magnetometer (no absolute heading)
- Noisier than modern IMUs