Arduino and L3G4200D three-axis gyroscope example

In this example we connect a L3G4200D three-axis gyroscope module to an Arduino Uno

First lets look at some information about the sensor from the manufacturer

Parts Required

Here are the parts I used

The sensor you can pick up in the $2 to $3 range

Schematic/Connection

My module had a built in 3.3v ldo voltage regulator which means you can connect 5v, make sure your module has this as well because the L3G4200D is only rated at 2.4 V to 3.6 V – exceeding that could damage the chip. You can of course use the 3.3v from the Arduino as well

Arduino and l3g4200 layout

Code Example

This example uses the library – https://github.com/jarzebski/Arduino-L3G4200D

This is one of the default examples when you install the library above, there are quite a few to browse

[codesyntax lang=”cpp”]

/*
    L3G4200D Triple Axis Gyroscope. Simple Example.
    Read more: http://www.jarzebski.pl/arduino/czujniki-i-sensory/3-osiowy-zyroskop-l3g4200d.html
    GIT: https://github.com/jarzebski/Arduino-L3G4200D
    Web: http://www.jarzebski.pl
    (c) 2014 by Korneliusz Jarzebski
*/

#include <Wire.h>
#include <L3G4200D.h>

L3G4200D gyroscope;

void setup() 
{
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("Initialize L3G4200D");

  while(!gyroscope.begin(L3G4200D_SCALE_2000DPS, L3G4200D_DATARATE_400HZ_50))
  {
    Serial.println("Could not find a valid L3G4200D sensor, check wiring!");
    delay(500);
  }

  // Check selected scale
  Serial.print("Selected scale: ");

  switch(gyroscope.getScale())
  {
    case L3G4200D_SCALE_250DPS:
      Serial.println("250 dps");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_SCALE_500DPS:
      Serial.println("500 dps");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_SCALE_2000DPS:
      Serial.println("2000 dps");
      break;
    default:
      Serial.println("unknown");
      break;
  }

  // Check Output Data Rate and Bandwidth
  Serial.print("Output Data Rate: ");

  switch(gyroscope.getOdrBw())
  {
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_800HZ_110:
      Serial.println("800HZ, Cut-off 110");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_800HZ_50:
      Serial.println("800HZ, Cut-off 50");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_800HZ_35:
      Serial.println("800HZ, Cut-off 35");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_800HZ_30:
      Serial.println("800HZ, Cut-off 30");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_400HZ_110:
      Serial.println("400HZ, Cut-off 110");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_400HZ_50:
      Serial.println("400HZ, Cut-off 50");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_400HZ_25:
      Serial.println("400HZ, Cut-off 25");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_400HZ_20:
      Serial.println("400HZ, Cut-off 20");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_200HZ_70:
      Serial.println("200HZ, Cut-off 70");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_200HZ_50:
      Serial.println("200HZ, Cut-off 50");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_200HZ_25:
      Serial.println("200HZ, Cut-off 25");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_200HZ_12_5:
      Serial.println("200HZ, Cut-off 12.5");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_100HZ_25:
      Serial.println("100HZ, Cut-off 25");
      break;
    case L3G4200D_DATARATE_100HZ_12_5:
      Serial.println("100HZ, Cut-off 12.5");
      break;
    default:
      Serial.println("unknown");
      break;
  }

  // Calibrate gyroscope. The calibration must be at rest.
  // If you don't want calibrate, comment this line.
  gyroscope.calibrate();

  // Set threshold sensivty. Default 3.
  // If you don't want use threshold, comment this line or set 0.
  gyroscope.setThreshold(3);
}

void loop()
{
  // Read normalized values
  Vector raw = gyroscope.readRaw();

  // Read normalized values in deg/sec
  Vector norm = gyroscope.readNormalize();

  // Output raw
  Serial.print(" Xraw = ");
  Serial.print(raw.XAxis);
  Serial.print(" Yraw = ");
  Serial.print(raw.XAxis);
  Serial.print(" Zraw = ");
  Serial.print(raw.YAxis);

  // Output normalized
  Serial.print(" Xnorm = ");
  Serial.print(norm.XAxis);
  Serial.print(" Ynorm = ");
  Serial.print(norm.YAxis);
  Serial.print(" ZNorm = ");
  Serial.print(norm.ZAxis);

  Serial.println();
}

[/codesyntax]

Output

Here is what I saw in Serial monitor,l move the module around to see different values

Initialize L3G4200D
Selected scale: 2000 dps
Output Data Rate: 400HZ, Cut-off 50
Xraw = -632.00 Yraw = -632.00 Zraw = -379.00 Xnorm = 0.00 Ynorm = 0.00 ZNorm = 0.00
Xraw = -384.00 Yraw = -384.00 Zraw = -9.00 Xnorm = 0.00 Ynorm = 0.00 ZNorm = 0.00
Xraw = -1971.00 Yraw = -1971.00 Zraw = 4270.00 Xnorm = 0.00 Ynorm = 0.00 ZNorm = 0.00
Xraw = -41.00 Yraw = -41.00 Zraw = 6569.00 Xnorm = 0.00 Ynorm = 0.00 ZNorm = 0.00
Xraw = 825.00 Yraw = 825.00 Zraw = -5843.00 Xnorm = 0.00 Ynorm = 0.00 ZNorm = 0.00

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