Sensors / Accel, Gyro, and Magnetometers
Accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers are the three main sensors we use for detecting motion and orientation! Adafruit makes several breakout boards featuring accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers. These three combined make a triple-threat project of really orienting yourself.
We can sense motion with an accelerometer. Accelerometers are used to measure acceleration - that means linear motion in X, Y or Z. They can be used to detect when they are being moved around, detect motion, shock or vibration. They can also be used to detect gravitational pull in order to detect orientation or tilt.
Gyroscopes are used to measure rotational motion in X, Y or Z. They are often paired with accelerometers for inertial guidance systems, 3D motion capture and inverted pendulum (e.g. Segway) type applications.
Magnetometers can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to detect magnetic north, but can also be used for measuring magnetic fields. When combined with accelerometers and gyroscopes you can stabilize orientation calculations and also determine orientation with respect to the Earth.
We even stock many 6-DoF sensors (which combine accelerometer+gyroscope), eCompasses (accelerometer+magnetometer) and 9-DoF sensors that have all-three-kinds-in-one.
PRODUCT ID: 2809
The LIS3DH is a very popular low power triple-axis accelerometer . It's low-cost, but has just about every 'extra' you'd want...
The LIS3DH is a very popular low power triple-axis accelerometer . It's low-cost, but has just about every 'extra' you'd want in an accelerometer: Three axis sensing, 10-bit precision±2g/±4g/±8g/±16g selectable scalingBoth I2C (2 possible addresses) and SPI interface optionsInterrupt outputMultiple data rate options 1 Hz to 5KhzAs low as 2uA current draw (just the chip itself, not including any...
PRODUCT ID: 2472
If you've ever ordered and wire up a 9-DOF sensor, chances are you've also realized the challenge of turning the sensor data from an...
If you've ever ordered and wire up a 9-DOF sensor, chances are you've also realized the challenge of turning the sensor data from an accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer into actual "3D space orientation"! Orientation is a hard problem to solve. The sensor fusion algorithms (the secret sauce that blends accelerometer, magnetometer and gyroscope data into stable three-axis orientation output) can...
PRODUCT ID: 2019
So many accelerometers and so little time! We've expanded our accelerometer selection even more with this high-precision and inexpensive MMA8451...
So many accelerometers and so little time! We've expanded our accelerometer selection even more with this high-precision and inexpensive MMA8451 Triple-Axis Accelerometer w/ 14-bit ADC. You can detect motion, tilt and basic orientation with a digital accelerometer - and the MMA8451 is a great accelerometer to start with. It has a wide usage range, from +-2g up to +-8g yet is easy to use with Arduino or another microcontroller The MMA8451 is...
PRODUCT ID: 4692
Behold, the ST LSM6DSO32: The latest in a long line of quality Accelerometer+Gyroscope 6-DOF IMUs from ST. This lil IMU is like a big sister to...
Behold, the ST LSM6DSO32: The latest in a long line of quality Accelerometer+Gyroscope 6-DOF IMUs from ST. This lil IMU is like a big sister to the LSM6DSOX, it has the same pin out and firmware - but the accelerometer component can go up to 32g instead of the normal 16g maximum. This IMU sensor has 6 degrees of freedom - 3 degrees each of linear acceleration and angular velocity at varying rates within a respectable range. For the...
PRODUCT ID: 4646
If you've ever ordered and wire up a 9-DOF sensor, chances are you've also realized the challenge of turning the sensor data from an...
If you've ever ordered and wire up a 9-DOF sensor, chances are you've also realized the challenge of turning the sensor data from an accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer into actual "3D space orientation"! Orientation is a hard problem to solve. The sensor fusion algorithms (the secret sauce that blends accelerometer, magnetometer, and gyroscope data into stable three-axis orientation output) can...
PRODUCT ID: 1231
Filling out our accelerometer offerings, we now have the really lovely digital ADXL345 from Analog Devices, a triple-axis accelerometer with digital...
Filling out our accelerometer offerings, we now have the really lovely digital ADXL345 from Analog Devices, a triple-axis accelerometer with digital I2C and SPI interface breakout. We added an on-board 3.3V regulator and logic-level shifting circuitry, making it a perfect choice for interfacing with any 3V or 5V microcontroller such as the Arduino. The sensor has three axes of measurements, X Y Z, and pins that can be used either as I2C or SPI...
PRODUCT ID: 163
We've updated our favorite triple-axis accelerometer to now have an on-board 3.3V regulator - making it a perfect choice for interfacing with a...
We've updated our favorite triple-axis accelerometer to now have an on-board 3.3V regulator - making it a perfect choice for interfacing with a 5V microcontroller such as the Arduino. This breakout comes with 3 analog outputs for X, Y and Z axis measurements on a 0.75"x0.75" breakout board. The ADXL335 is the latest and greatest from Analog Devices, known for their exceptional quality MEMS devices. The VCC takes up to 5V in and...
PRODUCT ID: 3886
I mew, you mew we all mew for IMU! The MPU-6050 is what we call "an oldie but goodie" - this popular triple axis accelerometer plus gyro...
I mew, you mew we all mew for IMU! The MPU-6050 is what we call "an oldie but goodie" - this popular triple axis accelerometer plus gyro combo has been a staple of electronic projects for years, and we've finally gotten around to making a breakout for it! Inside are two sensors, one is a classic 3-axis accelerometer, which can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity). The other is a gyroscoe that...
PRODUCT ID: 3387
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this all-in-one 9-DOF sensor. Inside the chip are three sensors, one is a...
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this all-in-one 9-DOF sensor. Inside the chip are three sensors, one is a classic 3-axis accelerometer, which can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or how fast the board is accelerating in 3D space. The other is a 3-axis magnetometer that can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to detect magnetic...
PRODUCT ID: 3463
The NXP Precision 9DoF breakout combines two of the best motion sensors we've tested here at Adafruit: The FXOS8700 3-Axis accelerometer and...
The NXP Precision 9DoF breakout combines two of the best motion sensors we've tested here at Adafruit: The FXOS8700 3-Axis accelerometer and magnetometer, and the FXAS21002 3-axis gyroscope. These two sensors combine to make a nice 9-DoF kit, that can be used for motion and orientation sensing. In particular, we think this sensor set is ideal for AHRS-based orientation calculations: the gyro stability performance is superior to the LSM9DS0,...
PRODUCT ID: 1120
He told you "Go West, young maker!" - but you don't know which way is West! Ah, if only you had this triple-axis...
He told you "Go West, young maker!" - but you don't know which way is West! Ah, if only you had this triple-axis accelerometer/magnetometer compass module. Inside are two sensors, one is a classic 3-axis accelerometer, which can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity). The other is a magnetometer that can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to detect magnetic...
PRODUCT ID: 4480
Add motion and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this affordable 6 Degree of Freedom (6-DoF) sensor with sensors from ST. The...
Add motion and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this affordable 6 Degree of Freedom (6-DoF) sensor with sensors from ST. The board includes an LSM6DS33 , a 6-DoF IMU accelerometer + gyro. The 3-axis accelerometer, can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or how fast the board is accelerating in 3D space. The 3-axis gyroscope that can measure spin and twist. This chip isn't the newest...
PRODUCT ID: 4517
Add high quality motion, direction and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this all-in-one 9 Degree of Freedom (9-DoF) sensor...
Add high quality motion, direction and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this all-in-one 9 Degree of Freedom (9-DoF) sensor with sensors from ST. This little breakout contains two chips that sit side-by-side to provide 9 degrees of full-motion data. The board includes an LSM6DSOX , a 6-DoF IMU accelerometer + gyro. The 3-axis accelerometer can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or...
PRODUCT ID: 4485
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this all-in-one 9 Degree of Freedom (9-DoF) sensor with sensors...
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this all-in-one 9 Degree of Freedom (9-DoF) sensor with sensors from ST. This little breakout contains two chips that sit side-by-side to provide 9 degrees of full motion data. The board includes an LSM6DS33 , a 6-DoF IMU accelerometer + gyro. The 3-axis accelerometer, can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or how fast the...
PRODUCT ID: 4479
Sense the magnetic fields that surround us with this handy triple-axis magnetometer (compass) module. Magnetometers can sense where the strongest...
Sense the magnetic fields that surround us with this handy triple-axis magnetometer (compass) module. Magnetometers can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to detect magnetic north, but can also be used for measuring magnetic fields. This sensor tends to be paired with a 6-DoF (degree of freedom) accelerometer/gyroscope to create a 9-DoF inertial measurement unit that can detect its orientation in real-space...
PRODUCT ID: 4344
The MSA301 is a super small and low cost triple-axis accelerometer . It's inexpensive, but has just about every 'extra' you'd want in...
The MSA301 is a super small and low cost triple-axis accelerometer . It's inexpensive, but has just about every 'extra' you'd want in an accelerometer: Three axis sensing, 14-bit resolution±2g/±4g/±8g/±16g selectable scalingI2C interface on fixed I2C address 0x26Interrupt outputMultiple data rate options 1 Hz to 500 HzAs low as 2uA current draw in low power mode (just the chip itself, not including any...
PRODUCT ID: 4022
Measure the invisible magnetic fields that surround us, with this wide-range magnetometer. The MLX90393 is a wide range magnetic field sensor, that...
Measure the invisible magnetic fields that surround us, with this wide-range magnetometer. The MLX90393 is a wide range magnetic field sensor, that can measure 16-bits in ranges from ±5mT up to ±50mT in all 3 axes. Compared to most magnetometers, this gives a huge range, which makes it excellent for detecting magnets and magnetic orientation, rather than the Earth's magnetic field. (Magnets have a much stronger field that...
PRODUCT ID: 4569
Upgrade any Feather board with precision motion sensing with the ST 9-DoF IMU, an all-in-one sensing 'Wing. It sports two fantastic sensors...
Upgrade any Feather board with precision motion sensing with the ST 9-DoF IMU, an all-in-one sensing 'Wing. It sports two fantastic sensors from ST to provide 9 degrees of full-motion data. The ST ISM330DHCX is an industrial quality Accelerometer+Gyroscope 6-DOF IMUs (inertial measurement unit). This IMU sensor has 6 degrees of freedom - 3 degrees each of linear acceleration and angular velocity at varying rates...
PRODUCT ID: 4634
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your project with this all-in-one 9-DOF sensor that is STEMMA QT ready for easy plug-n-play usage....
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your project with this all-in-one 9-DOF sensor that is STEMMA QT ready for easy plug-n-play usage. Inside the chip are three sensors, one is a classic 3-axis accelerometer, which can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or how fast the board is accelerating in 3D space. The other is a 3-axis magnetometer that can sense where the strongest magnetic force is...
PRODUCT ID: 1018
We've now got a wider range version of favorite triple-axis accelerometer - it even has an on-board 3.3V regulator - making it a perfect choice...
We've now got a wider range version of favorite triple-axis accelerometer - it even has an on-board 3.3V regulator - making it a perfect choice for interfacing with a 5V microcontroller such as the Arduino. This breakout comes with 3 analog outputs for X, Y and Z axis measurements on a 0.75"x0.75" breakout board. The ADXL326 is the latest and greatest from Analog Devices, known for their exceptional quality MEMS devices. The VCC...
PRODUCT ID: 1032
A gyroscope is a type of sensor that can sense twisting and turning motions. Often paired with an accelerometer, you can use these to do 3D motion...
A gyroscope is a type of sensor that can sense twisting and turning motions. Often paired with an accelerometer, you can use these to do 3D motion capture and inertial measurement (that is - you can tell how an object is moving!) As these sensors become more popular and easier to manufacture, the prices for them have dropped to the point where you can easily afford a triple-axis gyro! Only a decade ago, this space-tech sensor would have been...
PRODUCT ID: 2738
Control the same hardware as used in space...build your very own Astro Pi with the new Raspberry Pi Sense HAT ! The Raspberry Pi Sense HAT is...
Control the same hardware as used in space...build your very own Astro Pi with the new Raspberry Pi Sense HAT ! The Raspberry Pi Sense HAT is attached on top of the Raspberry Pi via the 40 GPIO pins to create an ‘Astro Pi’. The Sense HAT has several integrated circuit based sensors can be used for many different types of experiments, applications, and even games. And it's being used in conjunction with the Raspberry Pi Foundation...
PRODUCT ID: 345
The Wii Nunchuck has proven to be an excellent bargain - switches, joystick, and accelerometer in one handy package! But it's a shame to hack off...
The Wii Nunchuck has proven to be an excellent bargain - switches, joystick, and accelerometer in one handy package! But it's a shame to hack off the connector to make use of it, so use the Solarbotics Nunchucky breakout board adapter! The Nunchucky features: Two sets of interface padsIncludes a 4 Pin male headerLock notches so your Nunchuck "clicks" in and won't let loose!Tie-down Holes for securing ribbon-cable extensions...
PRODUCT ID: 4502
Behold, the ST ISM330DHCX: an industrial quality Accelerometer+Gyroscope 6-DOF IMUs (inertial measurement unit) from ST. This IMU sensor has 6...
Behold, the ST ISM330DHCX: an industrial quality Accelerometer+Gyroscope 6-DOF IMUs (inertial measurement unit) from ST. This IMU sensor has 6 degrees of freedom - 3 degrees each of linear acceleration and angular velocity at varying rates within a respectable range. For the accelerometer: ±2/±4/±8/±16 g at 1.6 Hz to 6.7KHz update rate. For the gyroscope:...
PRODUCT ID: 4413
Do you know which way the wind blows? You will now, with this triple-axis accelerometer/magnetometer compass module. Inside are two sensors, one is a...
Do you know which way the wind blows? You will now, with this triple-axis accelerometer/magnetometer compass module. Inside are two sensors, one is a classic 3-axis accelerometer, which can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity). The other is a magnetometer that can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to detect magnetic north. By combining this data you can then orient your...
PRODUCT ID: 4554
When you want to sense orientation using inertial measurements, you need an Inertial Measurement Unit, and when it comes to IMUs, the more DoFs, the...
When you want to sense orientation using inertial measurements, you need an Inertial Measurement Unit, and when it comes to IMUs, the more DoFs, the better! The ICM20948 from Invensense packs 9 Degrees of freedom into a teeny package, making it a one stop shop for all the DOFs you need! Within it’s svelte 3x3mm package there are not just one MEMS sensor die like your common sensors, but two sensor dies! The ICM20948 pair’s...
PRODUCT ID: 4366
The TLV493D 3-axis magnetometer is a great little sensor for detecting magnets in 3D . In fact, the manufacturer Infineon suggests it could be used...
The TLV493D 3-axis magnetometer is a great little sensor for detecting magnets in 3D . In fact, the manufacturer Infineon suggests it could be used to make a joystick! You could also use it for other cool things like detecting objects with magnets attached, like the lid of a box, or maybe a statue that unlocks your secret lair when placed on your mantle? The TLD493D excels at measuring nearby magnetic fields in three dimensions. It's not...
PRODUCT ID: 1247
Add motion and direction sensing to your wearable FLORA project with this high precision 3-axis Accelerometer+Compass sensor. Inside are two sensors,...
Add motion and direction sensing to your wearable FLORA project with this high precision 3-axis Accelerometer+Compass sensor. Inside are two sensors, one is a classic 3-axis accelerometer, which can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or how fast the board is accelerating in 3D space. The other is a magnetometer that can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to detect...
PRODUCT ID: 4438
Behold, the ST LSM6DSOX: The latest in a long line of quality Accelerometer+Gyroscope 6-DOF IMUs from ST. This IMU sensor has 6 degrees of...
Behold, the ST LSM6DSOX: The latest in a long line of quality Accelerometer+Gyroscope 6-DOF IMUs from ST. This IMU sensor has 6 degrees of freedom - 3 degrees each of linear acceleration and angular velocity at varying rates within a respectable range. For the accelerometer: ±2/±4/±8/±16 g at 1.6 Hz to 6.7KHz update rate. For the gyroscope: ±125/±250/±500/±1000/±2000 dps at...
PRODUCT ID: 4627
It’s not hard to find an accelerometer that can measure accelerations up to 16g, but if you need an accelerometer that can measure even larger...
It’s not hard to find an accelerometer that can measure accelerations up to 16g, but if you need an accelerometer that can measure even larger amounts of acceleration, your options narrow (The ICM20649 is a great sensor and can measure up to ±30g). Enter the LIS331 family of accelerometers from ST, including the H3LIS331 and LIS331HH . As their model numbers may suggest, the LIS331s are close...
PRODUCT ID: 4565
Upgrade any Feather board with precision motion sensing with the ST 9-DoF IMU, an all-in-one sensing 'Wing. It sports two fantastic sensors from...
Upgrade any Feather board with precision motion sensing with the ST 9-DoF IMU, an all-in-one sensing 'Wing. It sports two fantastic sensors from ST to provide 9 degrees of full-motion data. The board includes an LSM6DSOX , a 6-DoF IMU accelerometer + gyro. The 3-axis accelerometer can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or how fast the board is accelerating in 3D space. The 3-axis gyroscope can measure...
PRODUCT ID: 4097
Analog Devices has followed up on their popular classic, the ADXL345, with this near-drop-in-replacement, the ADXL343. Like the original, this is a...
Analog Devices has followed up on their popular classic, the ADXL345, with this near-drop-in-replacement, the ADXL343. Like the original, this is a triple-axis accelerometer with digital I2C and SPI interface breakout. It has a wide sensitivity range and high resolution, operating with an 10 or 13-bit internal ADC. Built-in motion detection features make tap, double-tap, activity, inactivity, and free-fall detection trivial. There's two...
PRODUCT ID: 4626
It’s not hard to find an accelerometer that can measure accelerations up to 16g, but if you need an accelerometer that can measure even larger...
It’s not hard to find an accelerometer that can measure accelerations up to 16g, but if you need an accelerometer that can measure even larger amounts of acceleration, your options narrow. Enter the LIS331 family of accelerometers from ST, including the LIS331HH . As the model number suggests, the LIS331s are close cousins to the venerable LIS3DH accelerometer that is on every Circuit Playground, from the Circuit Playground Classic to the...
PRODUCT ID: 4464
Most accelerometers have a similar range of measurements that they can make: often around 2G - 16G. Similarly, most gyros can measure in the range of...
Most accelerometers have a similar range of measurements that they can make: often around 2G - 16G. Similarly, most gyros can measure in the range of 250 degree/s to 2000 degrees/s. That's enough for many situations, however, there are many situations where it's not quite enough. When measuring things like a golf swing, soccer ball kick or perhaps a fancy racing car, you need a bit more performance out of your motion sensor. The ICM20649...
PRODUCT ID: 1413
Hey rocket man ( burnin' out your fuse out there alone ) ever wonder how fast you're rocketing? The ADXL377 +-200g 3-axis accelerometer may...
Hey rocket man ( burnin' out your fuse out there alone ) ever wonder how fast you're rocketing? The ADXL377 +-200g 3-axis accelerometer may be able to tell the answer. You read that right, this accelerometer can sense up to 200g's of force . Incredible! Not surprisingly, we couldn't say "no" to a breakout for this sensor. The sensor is soldered onto a PCB with four mounting holes (in case you don't remember, this is...
PRODUCT ID: 4488
Sense the magnetic fields that surround us with this handy triple-axis magnetometer (compass) module. Magnetometers can sense where the strongest...
Sense the magnetic fields that surround us with this handy triple-axis magnetometer (compass) module. Magnetometers can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to detect magnetic north, but can also be used for measuring magnetic fields. This sensor tends to be paired with a 6-DoF (degree of freedom) accelerometer/gyroscope to create a 9-DoF inertial measurement unit that can detect its orientation in real-space...
PRODUCT ID: 1714
This inertial-measurement-unit combines 2 of the best quality sensors available on the market to give you 9 axes of data: 3 axes of accelerometer...
This inertial-measurement-unit combines 2 of the best quality sensors available on the market to give you 9 axes of data: 3 axes of accelerometer data, 3 axes gyroscopic, and 3 axes magnetic (compass). We tested many different 'combination' sensors and found these were the best value, with stable and reliable readings. The L3DG20H gyroscope + LSM303DLHC accelerometer/compass sensors are all on one breakout here, to save you space and...
PRODUCT ID: 1604
This inertial-measurement-unit combines 3 of the best quality sensors available on the market to give you 11 axes of data: 3 axes of accelerometer...
This inertial-measurement-unit combines 3 of the best quality sensors available on the market to give you 11 axes of data: 3 axes of accelerometer data, 3 axes gyroscopic, 3 axes magnetic (compass), barometric pressure/altitude and temperature. We tested many different 'combination' sensors and found these were the best value, with stable and reliable readings. The L3DG20H gyroscope + LSM303DLHC accelerometer compass + BMP180...
PRODUCT ID: 2020
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your wearable FLORA project with this high precision 9-DOF sensors. Inside are three...
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your wearable FLORA project with this high precision 9-DOF sensors. Inside are three sensors, one is a classic 3-axis accelerometer, which can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or how fast the board is accelerating in 3D space. The other is a 3-axis magnetometer that can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used...
PRODUCT ID: 2021
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this all-in-one 9-DOF sensor. Inside the chip are three sensors,...
Add motion, direction and orientation sensing to your Arduino project with this all-in-one 9-DOF sensor. Inside the chip are three sensors, one is a classic 3-axis accelerometer, which can tell you which direction is down towards the Earth (by measuring gravity) or how fast the board is accelerating in 3D space. The other is a 3-axis magnetometer that can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to...
PRODUCT ID: 3085
The Prop Shield with Motion Sensors for Teensy 3.2 and Teensy-LC is meant for making interactive light and sound effects on small handheld props...
The Prop Shield with Motion Sensors for Teensy 3.2 and Teensy-LC is meant for making interactive light and sound effects on small handheld props and wearable costumes! Good for all sorts of projects, and designed by the creator of the Teensy so you know it's gonna be well supported Motion Sensors - Allows motion interactive light & sound. Audio Amplifier - Clear quality audio output to a small speaker. Fast LED Driver...
PRODUCT ID: 1746
He told you "Go West, young maker!" - but you don't know which way is West! Ah, if only you had this triple-axis magnetometer compass...
He told you "Go West, young maker!" - but you don't know which way is West! Ah, if only you had this triple-axis magnetometer compass module. A magnetometer can sense where the strongest magnetic force is coming from, generally used to detect magnetic north. We based this breakout on a popular and well loved magnetometer, the HMC5883L. This compact sensor uses I2C to communicate and its very easy to use. Since it's a 3.3V max...
