Getting Started with MPU-9250: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, and Magnetometer

The MPU-9250 is a 9-axis motion tracking device that combines a 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis accelerometer, and 3-axis magnetometer in a single compact chip. This versatile sensor is widely used in robotics, drones, wearables, and smartphone applications due to its ability to measure orientation, motion, and direction. Thanks to its onboard Digital Motion Processor (DMP), it can handle sensor fusion internally, helping reduce the load on your microcontroller.

Some key specifications of the MPU-9250 include:

• Accelerometer range: ±2g, ±4g, ±8g, ±16g

• Gyroscope range: ±250, ±500, ±1000, ±2000 °/s

• Magnetometer resolution: 0.6 µT

• I2C and SPI interfaces for communication

• Built-in 16-bit ADCs for high-resolution data

How It Works & What You'll Learn

In this video tutorial you’ll learn step-by-step how to interface the MPU-9250 with an Arduino. The video covers initializing the sensor, retrieving accelerometer and gyroscope data, and interpreting it for motion analysis. You’ll also learn how orientation is calculated from a defined reference point as soon as the sensor is powered on. Ahmad walks you through the wiring, coding, and demonstration using live serial output.

If you're new to motion sensors or want to deepen your understanding of how multi-axis sensors work, this is a must-watch. The code and datasheet are available below this tutorial for your convenience—so you can try it hands-on.

👉 Be sure to watch the full video to understand the practical aspects and see the MPU-9250 in action!