MPU6050 3-Axis Accelerometer Gyroscope Module GY-521

The MPU6050 GY-521 module remains one of the most popular and accessible motion sensing platforms in the maker community. At under $10, it delivers remarkable value with its combined 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope in a single chip.

The I2C interface makes wiring simple — just four connections (VCC, GND, SDA, SCL) and you're reading motion data. The module works with both 3.3V and 5V systems thanks to the onboard voltage regulator, making it compatible with virtually any Arduino or ESP32 board.

Library support is excellent. The popular MPU6050 library by Electronic Cats and Jeff Rowberg's I2Cdev library provide ready-to-use functions for reading raw values, calibrating offsets, and even accessing the built-in Digital Motion Processor (DMP) for quaternion-based orientation.

Accuracy is good for hobby projects but don't expect industrial-grade precision. Gyro drift is noticeable over extended periods without complementary or Kalman filtering. The built-in temperature sensor is a nice bonus for compensation algorithms.