BNO086 VR IMU Breakout Board – 9-Axis Accelerometer Gyroscope
BNO086 VR IMU Breakout Board – 9-Axis Accelerometer Gyroscope
BNO086 VR IMU Breakout Board – 9-Axis Accelerometer, Gyroscope & Magnetometer
Take your motion-sensing projects to the next level with the BNO086 VR IMU Breakout Board (SEN-22857). This compact, high-precision 9-axis inertial measurement unit combines a 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis gyroscope, and 3-axis magnetometer into a single, easy-to-integrate module. Featuring dual Qwiic connectors for tool-free daisy-chaining, this breakout board is ideal for robotics, VR/AR development, drone stabilization, wearables, and any project requiring accurate spatial orientation data.
Key Features
- 9-Axis Sensing: Combines accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer for full spatial awareness
- BNO086 Chipset: High-performance IMU with onboard sensor fusion — no external processing required
- Dual Qwiic Connectors: Tool-free I²C daisy-chaining for fast, clean builds
- Multi-Protocol Support: I²C (up to 400kHz), SPI (up to 3MHz), and UART (up to 3Mbps)
- Compact Form Factor: 1.0 in × 1.2 in (25.4mm × 30.48mm), weighing just 3g
- Configurable I²C Address: 0x4B (default) or 0x4A for multi-device setups
- On-board Power LED & Pull-up Resistors: Ready to use right out of the box
- Selectable Protocol Pins: Flexible configuration for I²C, SPI, or UART operation
Technical Specifications
| Operating Voltage | 2.4V – 3.6V (typically 3.3V via Qwiic cable) |
| I²C Speed | Up to 400kHz |
| SPI Speed | Up to 3MHz |
| UART Speed | 3 Mbps |
| Rotation Vector – Dynamic Error | 3.5° |
| Rotation Vector – Static Error | 2.0° |
| Game Rotation Vector – Dynamic Error | 2.5° |
| Game Rotation Vector – Static Error | 1.5° |
| Dynamic Heading Drift | 0.5°/min |
| Geomagnetic Rotation – Dynamic Error | 4.5° |
| Gravity Angle Error | 1.5° |
| Linear Acceleration Accuracy | 0.35 m/s² |
| Gyroscope Accuracy | 3.1°/sec |
| Magnetometer Accuracy | 1.4µT |
| I²C Address | 0x4B (default), 0x4A (selectable) |
| I²C Pull-up Resistor | 2.2kΩ |
| Board Size | 1.0 in × 1.2 in (25.4mm × 30.48mm) |
| Weight | 3g |
| Color | Red |
| Material | PCB |
What's in the Box?
- 1× BNO086 VR IMU Breakout Board Module (SEN-22857)
Made in Mainland China.
For more information on electronic measurement standards and sensor technology, visit the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) – Electrical Measurements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What communication protocols does the BNO086 VR IMU Breakout Board support?
A: The BNO086 IMU Breakout Board (SEN-22857) supports three communication protocols: I²C (up to 400kHz), SPI (up to 3MHz), and UART (up to 3Mbps). The protocol is selectable via onboard configuration pins, making it compatible with a wide variety of microcontrollers and development platforms including Arduino and Raspberry Pi.
Q: What is the Qwiic connector and why is it useful on this IMU breakout board?
A: The Qwiic system uses a standardized 4-pin JST connector for I²C communication. This board features two Qwiic ports, allowing you to daisy-chain multiple sensors and devices without soldering — greatly simplifying wiring in complex builds such as robotics, VR headsets, and motion-tracking systems.
Q: Is the BNO086 breakout board compatible with 5V systems?
A: The BNO086 IMU operates at 2.4V–3.6V (nominally 3.3V). If your microcontroller operates at 5V logic, you will need a level shifter or a 3.3V-tolerant interface to ensure safe and reliable communication. Most modern development boards (ESP32, Arduino Due, Raspberry Pi) operate at 3.3V and are directly compatible.
Q: What types of projects is the SEN-22857 IMU Breakout Board best suited for?
A: This 9-axis IMU breakout board is excellent for VR/AR headset development, drone and UAV stabilization, robotic orientation control, wearable motion-capture devices, game controllers, and any application requiring precise 3D spatial orientation and motion data with onboard sensor fusion.