Sensor Boards

An overview of available sensor boards.

  • The "Breakout Board?" column lists price if board is cheap & easy to procure.
  • Prices in USD from online platforms incl shipping.
  • Table created Dec 2023

6-axis IMU

Part Breakout Board? Rate (Hz) Gyro Noise (mdps/√Hz) Acc Noise (µg/√Hz) Notes
MPU-6000 yes 8k gyro, 1k acc Released 2011, EOL
MPU-6050 yes 8k gyro, 1k acc I2C only, Released 2011, EOL
MPU-6500 $2 8k gyro, 4k acc 10 300 upgraded MPU-6000, Released 2014, NRND
BMI160 $2 3.2k gyro, 1.6k acc 8 180
BMI270 no 6k gyro 7 160 Used in current commercial FC as replacement for MPU-6000/6500
LSM6DS3 $2 7 180
LSM6DSO $10 6.7k 3.8 110
LSM6DSL no 6.7k 4 80
LSM6DSM no 6.7k 3.8 130
LSM6DSV no 7.68k 2.8 60
ICM-20602 $5 4 100 NRND
ICM-20649 no 17.5 285 NRND
ICM-40609-D no 32k gyro+acc 4.5 100 Marketed for drones, replacement of ICM-20602 and MPU-6500
ICM-42688-P no 32k gyro 2.8 70 Used in current high performance FC

9-axis IMU

Part Breakout Board? Interface Notes
MPU-9150 $7 I2C 8k gyro, MPU6050 + AK8975, EOL
MPU-9250 $7 SPI 20MHz, I2C 8k gyro, 4k acc, 100Hz mag, MPU6500 + AK8963, Released 2014 (EOL) Note: many fake or relabelled MPU-6500 chips sold as MPU-9250 on the market...
MPU-9255 $9 SPI 20MHz, I2C 8k gyro, MPU-6000 + AK8963, EOL
ICM-20948 $9 SPI 7MHz, I2C noise: 15 mdps/√Hz 230 µg/√Hz, replacement of MPU-9250/9255, ICM-20649 + AK09916, Released 2018
LSM9DSO no

Magnetometer

Part Breakout Board? Interface Notes
HMC5883L $2 I2C 160 Hz, 0.2µT/LSB, 12-bit ADC, chip marking "L883"
QMC5883L $2 I2C 200 Hz, 0.008µT/LSB, 16-bit ADC, chip marking "5883"
AK8963 I2C 100 Hz, 0.15µT/LSB, 16-bit, integraded in MPU9250
AK8975 I2C 100 Hz, 0.3µT/LSB, 13-bit, integraded in MPU9150
AK09916 I2C 100 Hz, 0.15µT/LSB, 16-bit, integraded in ICM-20948
IST8310 I2C 200 Hz, 0.3µT/LSB, 14-bit
LIS2MDL I2C 100 Hz, 0.015µT/LSB, 16-bit

Barometer

Part Breakout Board? Interface Relative Precision Resolution Measurement Rate RMS Noise Notes
DPS310 $3 SPI, I2C 6Pa 50cm 0.06Pa Used in current commercial FC
BMP180 $2
BMP280 $2 12Pa 100cm 0.18Pa 157Hz 1.3Pa Used in current commercial FC
BMP388 $8 SPI, I2C
MS5611 $4 SPI 20MHz, I2C 1.2Pa 10cm 120Hz
SPL06-001 no
LPS22HB $6 SPI, I2C 10Pa 80cm 0.025Pa 75Hz 0.75Pa
LPS22DF $14 SPI, I2C 1Pa 8cm 0.025Pa 200Hz 0.34Pa
ILPS22QS $14 SPI, I2C 1.5Pa 12cm 0.025Pa 200Hz 0.34Pa

Multi Sensor Modules

Module Price DOF Sensors
GY-85 9DOF ITG3205 + ADXL345 + HMC5883L
GY-86 10DOF MPU6050 HMC5883L MS5611
GY-87 $4 10DOF MPU6050 HMC5883L BMP180
GY-91 $8 10DOF MPU9250 BMP280
GY-521 $2 6DOF MPU6050
GY-912 $11 10DOF ICM20948 BMP388