Calibration of a Magnetometer with Raspberry Pi

In this tutorial, methods for calibrating a magnetometer aboard the MPU9250 is explored using our Calibration Block. The magnetometer is calibrated by rotating the IMU 360° around each axis and calculating offsets for hard iron effects. Python is again used as the coding language on the Raspberry Pi computer in order to communicate and record data from the IMU via the I2C bus. The second half of this tutorial gives a full calibration routine for the IMU's accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer. The final implementation will allow for moderate (first-order) calibration of the MPU9250 under reasonable conditions, requiring only the calibration block and IMU. Finally, the complete final code will save the coefficients for each sensor for future use in direct applications without the need for constant calibration. The use of the calibration coefficients will allow for improved estimates of orientation, displacement, vibration, and other relevant control and measurement analyses.

MPU6050 Arduino High-Frequency Accelerometer and Gyroscope Data Saver

The MPU6050 is a 6-DoF (degree of freedom) accelerometer and gyroscope that is designed for inexpensive, small-scale, and efficient approximation of motion. Accelerometers and gyroscopes are used in smart phones for orientation detection, vibration analysis in vehicles and machines, and even camera stabilization and motion tracking. There are countless applications for accelerometers and gyroscopes, and with devices as accessible as the MPU6050, we can really test the limits of the technology.