MinIMU-9 v2 Gyro, Accelerometer, and Compass

The Pololu MinIMU-9 v2 is a compact (0.8″ × 0.5″) board that combines ST’s L3GD20 3-axis gyroscope and LSM303DLHC 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis magnetometer to form an inertial measurement unit (IMU); we therefore recommend careful reading of the L3GD20 datasheet (2MB pdf) and the LSM303DLHC datasheet (629k pdf) before using this product. These sensors are great ICs, but their small packages make them difficult for the typical student or hobbyist to use. They also operate at voltages below 3.6 V, which can make interfacing difficult for microcontrollers operating at 5 V. The MinIMU-9 v2 addresses these issues by incorporating additional electronics, including a voltage regulator and a level-shifting circuit, while keeping the overall size as compact as possible. The board ships fully populated with its SMD components, including the L3GD20 and LSM303, as shown in the product picture.

The MinIMU-9 v2 is pin-compatible with the AltIMU-10, which offers the same functionality augmented by a digital barometer that can be used to obtain pressure and altitude measurements. The AltIMU includes a second mounting hole and is 0.2″ longer than the MinIMU-9 v2. Any code written for the MinIMU-9 v2 should also work with the AltIMU-10.