BNO085 9-DOF IMU with Sensor Fusion
Advanced 9-DOF IMU with built-in sensor fusion processor. Outputs absolute orientation (quaternion/Euler), linear acceleration, gyroscope, and magnetometer data with no host-side math required.
Say it to PAL
“Tell me which way it is pointing.”
The code PAL writes
const heading = await p.read('qwiic-bno085', 'heading');
const pitch = await p.read('qwiic-bno085', 'pitch');
const roll = await p.read('qwiic-bno085', 'roll');
p.log(`Heading: ${heading}°, Pitch: ${pitch}°, Roll: ${roll}°`);“Tell me when it tips over.”
The code PAL writes
p.onSensorChange('qwiic-bno085', 'pitch', (pitch) => {
if (Math.abs(pitch) > 45) p.notify('Tilted beyond 45°: ' + pitch + '°');
});
await p.waitUntilStopped();When to pick it
Premium IMU with built-in sensor fusion — outputs orientation directly (no host math). Choose over ICM-20948 when you need drift-free heading, quaternions, or activity classification. Best for VR tracking, robotics, drones.
Good to know
- Magnetometer calibration is required for accurate absolute heading. Move in figure-8 pattern after power-up.
- Nearby magnets, motors, or metal can distort compass heading significantly.
- Power-on takes ~100ms before data is available. First few readings may be inaccurate as fusion settles.
About it
The BNO085 is a premium 9-DOF inertial measurement unit with a built-in ARM Cortex-M0+ co-processor running Hillcrest's sensor fusion algorithms (SHTP protocol). Unlike raw IMUs, it outputs fused orientation data (quaternion and Euler angles) directly, eliminating the need for complex host-side math. Supports rotation vector, game rotation vector, geomagnetic rotation vector, linear acceleration (gravity-removed), calibrated gyroscope, and magnetometer reports. Ideal for VR/AR tracking, robotics, drone stabilization, and motion capture.
Where to buy
Facts
Tested
It is in our catalog, but nobody has checked it on a real board. It may not work yet. Its driver is written, but it has not been tested on hardware yet.
I2C address
The BNO085 9-DOF IMU with Sensor Fusion answers at I2C address 0x4A. A jumper or pin moves it to 0x4B.
Current
12 mA
The catalog lists a typical draw of 12 mA for the BNO085, copied from the maker’s description and not measured by Palpable.
Board size
25.4 × 22.86 mm
The BNO085 board measures 25.4 × 22.86 mm and stands 4.6 mm tall with its parts. It has 4 mounting holes. These dimensions are from the maker’s mechanical drawing.
Chip
BNO085
Its sensor is the CEVA (Hillcrest Labs) BNO085.
Free to reuse
Every fact here is open data under CC BY 4.0. Copy it into your own docs or code, and credit Palpable. Download it
This record was last changed on October 6, 2026.