Port of FreeIMU library from Arduino to Mbed¶

10DOF FreeIMU port for FreeIMU v4 board and GY-86. This library was modified extensively to specifically suit the Mbed platform. Maximum sampling rate of 500hz can be achieved using this library.

Improvements¶

Sensor fusion algorithm fast initialization¶

This library implements the ARHS hot start algorithm, meaning that you can get accurate readings seconds after the algorithm is started, much faster than the Arduino version, where outputs slowly converge to the correct value in about a minute.

Caching¶

Sensors are read at their maximum output rates. Read values are cached hence multiple consecutive queries will not cause multiple reads.

Fully async¶

Acc & Gyro reads are performed via timer interrupts. Magnetometer and barometer are read by RTOS thread. No interfering with main program logic.

Usage¶

Declare a global FreeIMU object like the one below. There should only be one FreeIMU instance existing at a time.

#include "mbed.h"
#include "FreeIMU.h"
FreeIMU imu;

int main(){
    imu.init(true);
}

Then, anywhere in the code, you may call imu.getQ(q) to get the quarternion, where q is an array of 4 floats representing the quarternion structure.

You are recommended to call getQ frequently to keep the filter updated. However, the frequency should not exceed 500hz to avoid redundant calculation. One way to do this is by using the RtosTimer:

void getIMUdata(void const *);     //method definition

//in main
RtosTimer IMUTimer(getIMUdata, osTimerPeriodic, (void *)NULL);
IMUTimer.start(2);     //1 / 2ms = 500hz

//getIMUdata function
void getIMUdata(void const *dummy){
    imu.getQ(NULL);
}