Gyroscope
Measures rotational rate (angular velocity) on X, Y, and Z axes for stabilization and rotation tracking.
Overview
A gyroscope measures the rate of rotation around its axes, expressed in degrees per second. Unlike an accelerometer (which measures orientation relative to gravity), a gyroscope detects how fast something is spinning. This makes it essential for stabilization systems, drone flight controllers, and gesture recognition.
ArduinoStudio emits sensor-data events with angular rate values for each axis.
Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Sensor | ITG3200 |
| Range | +-2000 degrees/second |
| Sensitivity | 14.375 LSB per degree/second |
| Interface | I2C |
| Operating Voltage | 3.3V only |
Wiring Guide
| ITG3200 Pin | Arduino Pin |
|---|---|
| VCC | 3.3V |
| GND | GND |
| SDA | A4 (Uno) / 20 (Mega) |
| SCL | A5 (Uno) / 21 (Mega) |
| INT | Optional interrupt pin |
Important: The ITG3200 is a 3.3V-only device. Do not connect it directly to 5V. Use a level shifter on the I2C lines when connecting to a 5V Arduino board.
Usage in ArduinoStudio
Drag the Gyro component onto the canvas. It uses the I2C bus automatically. Angular rate data streams continuously on all three axes. Common applications:
- Stabilize a balancing robot
- Detect rotation gestures
- Track heading changes (integrate angular rate over time)
- Combine with accelerometer data for complementary filtering