How to use Arduino with an IMU sensor for drone?

#arduino #imusensor #mpu6050 #arduinouno

Here's how to use Arduino with an IMU sensor (like the MPU6050) for drone applications, such as stabilizing pitch and roll:

What You Need:
Hardware

Arduino Uno / Nano / Mega
MPU6050 module (6-axis IMU: 3-axis accel + 3-axis gyro)
Jumper wires
Breadboard (optional)
ESCs + Brushless motors (for actual drone control)
Power source (battery)

Wiring (I2C - default interface)

(Use A4/A5 for I2C on Uno/Nano, or check your board’s SDA/SCL pins)

Arduino Code Example (Using MPU6050 + I2Cdevlib)

Install Libraries in Arduino IDE:

Go to Library Manager → Install:

MPU6050 by Jeff Rowberg
I2Cdevlib

Sample Code:

cpp

#include <Wire.h>
#include <MPU6050.h>

MPU6050 mpu;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Wire.begin();
  mpu.initialize();

  if (mpu.testConnection()) {
    Serial.println("MPU6050 connected successfully.");
  } else {
    Serial.println("MPU6050 connection failed.");
  }
}

void loop() {
  int16_t ax, ay, az, gx, gy, gz;

  mpu.getMotion6(&ax, &ay, &az, &gx, &gy, &gz);

  Serial.print("Accel: ");
  Serial.print(ax); Serial.print(" ");
  Serial.print(ay); Serial.print(" ");
  Serial.print(az); Serial.print(" | Gyro: ");
  Serial.print(gx); Serial.print(" ");
  Serial.print(gy); Serial.print(" ");
  Serial.println(gz);

  delay(100);
}

Next Steps for Drone Control:

PID Controller: Stabilize pitch, roll, and yaw using the sensor data.
Map PID output to PWM signals sent to ESCs for motor control.
Safety: Add throttle kill-switch and failsafe.
Optional: Use additional sensors (e.g., barometer, GPS) for altitude hold and navigation.

Recommended IMU Upgrade (for more precision):