Measure motion with the MPU6050
Read the MPU6050 over I2C at address 0x68 using A4 SDA and A5 SCL. Disable the Uno internal pull-ups, wake the chip, choose the ±2g accelerometer range and print ax, ay and az in g.
Read the MPU6050 over I2C at address 0x68 using A4 SDA and A5 SCL. Disable the Uno internal pull-ups, wake the chip, choose the ±2g accelerometer range and print ax, ay and az in g.
Use the Uno R3 Learning Kit. Build with power disconnected, check the labelled connections, then upload the supplied sketch. Drag or zoom the 3D model to inspect it from any angle.
Identify your part
This lesson targets a regulated GY-521 with I2C pull-ups to 3.3V. Verify the supplied board; the bare MPU6050 is not 5V tolerant.
Also needed
The header must be soldered securely; this build plugs its eight pins directly into the breadboard.
Step 1 — Watch the complete build
Press Play for the narrated build. You can rotate and zoom the model while it plays, or follow the individual steps below.
Loading assembly…
Keep U S B disconnected while you build. On this breadboard, each group of five holes shares a connection; the centre channel separates the two halves. You can drag the 3D view to look around. Connect the Arduino’s five volt output to the positive rail. Connect Arduino ground to the ground rail. Use the regulated GY-521 MPU6050 board shown here. The sensor chip itself is a 3.3 volts device. Check its regulator and I squared C pull-ups to 3.3 volts. Flip the module so the header points down, and insert power through INT into E10 through E17. Each pin must occupy a separate numbered column. Connect the motion sensor’s supply pin to the positive rail. Connect the motion sensor’s ground pin to the ground rail. Connect the motion sensor’s AD0 pin to the ground rail. Connect the motion sensor’s data pin to Arduino analog input 4. Connect the motion sensor’s clock pin to Arduino analog input 5. Check all wiring. Connect the square U S B-B plug to the Uno and the U S B-A plug to your computer. Use Verify and Upload in the code editor below.
Step 2 — Understand the breadboard
Keep USB disconnected while you build. On this breadboard, each group of five holes shares a connection; the centre channel separates the two halves. You can drag the 3D view to look around.
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Keep U S B disconnected while you build. On this breadboard, each group of five holes shares a connection; the centre channel separates the two halves. You can drag the 3D view to look around.
Step 3 — Connect Uno 5V → T+ rail 3
Connect the Arduino’s five volt output to the positive rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno 5V | T+ rail 3 |
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Connect the Arduino’s five volt output to the positive rail.
Step 4 — Connect Uno GND → T- rail 1
Connect Arduino ground to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| Uno GND | T- rail 1 |
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Connect Arduino ground to the ground rail.
Step 5 — Identify the motion module
Use the regulated GY-521 MPU6050 board shown here. The sensor chip itself is a 3.3V device. Check its regulator and I2C pull-ups to 3.3V. Flip the module so the header points down, and insert VCC through INT into E10 through E17. Each pin must occupy a separate numbered column.
Exact breadboard holes
- motion · VCC → column 10 row E
- motion · GND → column 11 row E
- motion · SCL → column 12 row E
- motion · SDA → column 13 row E
- motion · XDA → column 14 row E
- motion · XCL → column 15 row E
- motion · AD0 → column 16 row E
- motion · INT → column 17 row E
Loading assembly…
Use the regulated GY-521 MPU6050 board shown here. The sensor chip itself is a 3.3 volts device. Check its regulator and I squared C pull-ups to 3.3 volts. Flip the module so the header points down, and insert power through INT into E10 through E17. Each pin must occupy a separate numbered column.
Step 6 — Connect column 10 row A → T+ rail 10
Connect the motion sensor’s supply pin to the positive rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 10 row A | T+ rail 10 |
Loading assembly…
Connect the motion sensor’s supply pin to the positive rail.
Step 7 — Connect column 11 row A → T- rail 11
Connect the motion sensor’s ground pin to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 11 row A | T- rail 11 |
Loading assembly…
Connect the motion sensor’s ground pin to the ground rail.
Step 8 — Connect column 16 row A → T- rail 16
Connect the motion sensor’s AD0 pin to the ground rail.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 16 row A | T- rail 16 |
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Connect the motion sensor’s AD0 pin to the ground rail.
Step 9 — Connect column 13 row A → Uno A4/SDA
Connect the motion sensor’s SDA pin to Arduino analog input 4.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 13 row A | Uno A4/SDA |
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Connect the motion sensor’s data pin to Arduino analog input 4.
Step 10 — Connect column 12 row A → Uno A5/SCL
Connect the motion sensor’s SCL pin to Arduino analog input 5.
| Connect | To |
|---|---|
| column 12 row A | Uno A5/SCL |
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Connect the motion sensor’s clock pin to Arduino analog input 5.
Step 11 — Place USB-A to USB-B cable · Uno
Check all wiring. Connect the square USB-B plug to the Uno and the USB-A plug to your computer. Use Verify and Upload in the code editor below.
Loading assembly…
Check all wiring. Connect the square U S B-B plug to the Uno and the U S B-A plug to your computer. Use Verify and Upload in the code editor below.
Step 12 — Program your Uno
Choose Arduino Uno. Verify, pair the board and Upload this sketch. Keep USB connected. Read the MPU6050 over I2C at address 0x68 using A4 SDA and A5 SCL. Disable the Uno internal pull-ups, wake the chip, choose the ±2g accelerometer range and print ax, ay and az in g.
Step 13 — Explore the live readings
Tilt the module slowly. At rest the gravity vector has a magnitude of approximately 1g; its components change as you rotate the board. This is not a position or distance sensor.
Step 14 — Troubleshooting
If the module is not detected, check SDA/SCL, AD0 and the regulator/pull-ups. A bare MPU6050 or an unregulated breakout requires 3.3V power and suitable level translation.
Parts List
Required Parts (1)
Use the components named in this tutorial. A computer and any additional power supply are not included.
x1
$64.70
In stockProject Summary
1 part total
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