🛠 Simple Automation with the IMU Sensor

Objectives

This tutorial aims to introduce beginners to basic automation using the 6-axis inertial sensor LSM6DS3TR-C integrated into the Seeed Studio XIAO STM32C5 board. We will configure the board to detect a change in orientation and simulate an action (such as turning on an LED or sending a message) when the tilt exceeds a defined threshold. This use case illustrates the link between physical perception and control logic.

Required Hardware

• A Seeed Studio XIAO STM32C5 board.
• A USB-C cable for power and programming.
• A computer with MicroPython environment or STM32CubeIDE installed.
• Optional: An external LED if you want to visualize the result physically, although the integrated LED can be used.

Steps

1. Install a MicroPython environment compatible with the STM32C5 or configure your STM32CubeIDE project for the STM32C5A3CG microcontroller.
2. Connect the XIAO board to your computer via the USB-C port. Ensure the driver is recognized.
3. Open your code editor and create a new main file.
4. Initialize communication with the LSM6DS3TR-C sensor. On this board, the sensor is connected via the internal I2C bus. You will need to use dedicated libraries for this sensor to read accelerometer and gyroscope data.
5. Write a main loop that reads acceleration values on the X or Y axis.
6. Add an if condition: if the absolute value of acceleration on the selected axis exceeds 1.5 g (indicating significant tilt), trigger an action.
7. For the action, blink the integrated LED on the XIAO board or print "Alert" to the serial console.
8. Upload the code to the board and observe the behavior by manually tilting the board.

Verification

Open the serial monitor in your development environment. Tilt the XIAO board sideways. You should see the LED light up or the alert message appear as soon as the angle exceeds the threshold. Place the board flat to confirm that the alert stops. This responsiveness confirms that the sensor reading and conditional logic are working correctly.

Going Further

Once this basic mechanism is mastered, you can explore the advanced capabilities of the sensor. The LSM6DS3TR-C has a PWM-programmable heating circuit. You can try activating this heating to stabilize measurements in cold environments. Furthermore, you can integrate this logic into a more complex system using the CAN FD interfaces available on the board, allowing the XIAO to communicate its tilt state to other industrial devices.