GY-50 L3G4200D Triple-Axis Gyroscope Module
Ultra-Precise 3-Axis Angular Velocity Sensor with Digital I2C & SPI Interfaces
The GY-50 L3G4200D Triple-Axis Gyroscope Module is a high-performance, low-power 3-axis angular velocity sensor built on STMicroelectronics' L3G4200D MotionFX technology. Designed to measure rotational speed along the X, Y, and Z axes, this digital gyroscope features three user-selectable measurement ranges up to $\pm 2000^\circ/\text{sec}$ (dps) to balance fine accuracy with high-speed rotation tracking.
Equipped with an onboard 16-bit ADC, temperature compensation, and dual digital communication interfaces (I2C and SPI), the GY-50 is an essential motion-sensing module for drone stabilization, robotic navigation, camera gimbals, and gesture control platforms.
Key Features
3-Axis Rotational Sensing: Measures angular velocity across Pitch, Roll, and Yaw simultaneously with high stability over temperature.
Selectable Full-Scale Ranges: Configurable full-scale measurement limits of $\pm 250\text{ dps}$, $\pm 500\text{ dps}$, and $\pm 2000\text{ dps}$ for tailored precision.
Dual Digital Interfaces: Supports standard I2C and high-speed 3/4-wire SPI bus protocols for direct digital communication with host microcontrollers.
16-Bit Data Output: Features onboard 16-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) providing high-resolution angular speed readouts.
Onboard Power Regulation & Level Shifting: Integrated 3.3V LDO regulator and level-shifting circuitry allow safe operation with both 3.3V (ESP32, Raspberry Pi) and 5V (Arduino) logic levels.
Built-In Temperature Sensor & FIFO Buffer: Includes an internal temperature sensor and a 32-level FIFO (First-In, First-Out) data buffer to minimize host CPU polling overhead.
Typical Applications
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) & Drones: Flight controller stabilization, spin tracking, and multirotor position recovery.
Robotics & Balance Systems: Rotational rate feedback for two-wheeled balancing robots, omni-wheels, and mobile rovers.
Camera Gimbals & Optical Stabilization: Detecting hand-shake and axis drift for motorized camera stabilizers.
Gesture Control & Gaming: Spatial motion input, tilt/turn controls, and wearable motion-tracking gloves.
Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
| Sensor IC | STMicroelectronics L3G4200D |
| Sensing Axes | 3-Axis (X, Y, Z Angular Velocity) |
| Measurement Ranges | $\pm 250^\circ/\text{s}$, $\pm 500^\circ/\text{s}$, $\pm 2000^\circ/\text{s}$ |
| Data Output Resolution | 16-Bit Data Output per Axis |
| Communication Protocols | I2C (Default Address 0x69 / 0x68) & SPI |
| Operating Voltage | 3.0V – 5.0V DC |
| Supply Current | 6.1 mA (Active Mode) / 5 $\mu\text{A}$ (Power-Down Mode) |
| Dimensions | 20 mm × 16 mm |
Pinout Connection Guide
| Pin Name | Function | Description |
| VCC | Power Input | Connect to 3.3V or 5V DC |
| GND | System Ground | Connect to System Ground (0V) |
| SCL / SPC | I2C Clock / SPI Clock | Serial Clock line for I2C or SPI interface |
| SDA / SDI | I2C Data / SPI Data In | Serial Data line for I2C or Serial Data Input for SPI |
| SDO | SPI Data Out / Address | SPI Data Output pin / I2C Address Select pin |
| CS | Chip Select | Pull HIGH for I2C mode / Pull LOW for SPI mode |
| INT1 / DRDY | Interrupt / Data Ready | Programmable interrupt output / Data Ready signal |
Package Includes
1 × GY-50 L3G4200D 3-Axis Gyroscope Sensor Module
1 × Straight Male Pin Header Strip
1 × Right-Angle Male Pin Header Strip