BNO055 IMU Sensor Breakout Board
Overview
The Boardoza BNO055 is a revolutionary "smart" 9-Axis Absolute Orientation Sensor, architected as a System-in-Package (SiP) specifically for autonomous systems, robotics, and wearable technology. Powered by the Bosch Sensortec BNO055 engine, this module integrates a triaxial 14-bit accelerometer, a precise 16-bit gyroscope, and a triaxial geomagnetic sensor into a single silicon die.
What distinguishes this board is its integrated 32-bit Cortex-M0 microcontroller running the embedded BSX3.0 FusionLib software. This architecture allows raw sensor data to be processed on-chip using complex sensor fusion algorithms (such as Quaternions and Euler angles), thereby offloading the computational burden from the host microcontroller and delivering drift-free orientation data directly.
Core Technical Specifications
The module is defined by the following operational parameters:
Sensor Architecture: Integrated SiP housing an Accelerometer, Gyroscope, and Magnetometer.
Processing Power: On-board 32-bit MCU executing hardware-accelerated Sensor Fusion algorithms.
Operating Voltage: Features a wide input range, operating reliably between 3.3V and 5.5V DC.
Output Data Formats:
Absolute Orientation: Provides Euler Vectors (360° sphere) or Quaternion outputs at 100Hz.
Linear Acceleration: Acceleration data with the gravity vector removed.
Gravity Vector: Isolated gravitational acceleration component for tilt calculation.
Communication Interface: Configured by default for I2C, but supports reconfiguration to UART via the PS0 and PS1 pins.
Operating Temperature: Engineered for industrial environments ranging from -40°C to +85°C.
Physical Dimensions: A compact 20 mm x 40 mm PCB footprint.
Key Engineering Features
On-Chip Sensor Fusion
In traditional IMU systems, converting raw data into meaningful orientation requires the host processor to run intensive Kalman filters. The BNO055 handles this internally, providing calibrated, drift-free orientation data directly from its output pins. This frees up significant resources on the main system processor for other tasks.
Flexible Integration Interface
The board is designed with TTL-level I2C compatibility, allowing direct communication with both 3.3V and 5V microcontrollers (such as Arduino, ESP32, and STM32). Additionally, users can toggle the PS0 and PS1 pins to switch the module into HID-I2C or UART modes, adapting to various system architectures.
Advanced Interrupt Management
The integrated INT pin provides a hardware interrupt signal that can be programmed to trigger on specific motion events—such as any motion, no motion, or high-G impacts. This feature is critical for power-efficient designs, allowing the host MCU to sleep until an event occurs.
Hardware Interface and Signal Mapping
The module exposes power and data lines via standard pin headers:
Power and I2C Communication (Main Header)
VCC: Power supply input (3.3V - 5.5V).
GND: Common system ground.
SCL: I2C Serial Clock line for data synchronization.
SDA: I2C Serial Data line for bidirectional communication.
System Control and Configuration
ADR: I2C address selection pin, enabling multiple sensors on the same bus.
INT: Interrupt output pin for hardware-based event signaling.
PS0 & PS1: Protocol select pins. Toggling the logic levels (High/Low) of these pins determines the active communication protocol (I2C/UART).
Applications
Autonomous Robotics: Precision navigation and balance control for UAVs and ground rovers.
Virtual Reality (VR/AR): Low-latency head tracking for headsets and controllers.
Biomechanics: Rehabilitation tracking of human motion and posture.
Marine Electronics: Heading and roll compensation for boat autopilot systems.
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