Can I log data from 5x 6-DoF IMUs + 1x 9-DoF IMU using Qwiic MultiPorts and SparkFun DataLogger IoT?

Sensors IMU & Motion
1

Title: Can I log data from 5x 6-DoF IMUs + 1x 9-DoF IMU using Qwiic MultiPorts and SparkFun DataLogger IoT?

Hi SparkFun team,

I’m working on a data-logging setup where I want to collect IMU data from multiple sensors using the Qwiic ecosystem. My planned setup is:

  • 2× SparkFun Qwiic MultiPort (BOB-18012)

  • 5× 6-axis IMU (SEN-20176)

  • 1× 9-DoF IMU (SEN-19895)

  • 1× SparkFun DataLogger IoT (DEV-22462)

All sensors will be connected via Qwiic cables to the MultiPorts, which are then connected to the DataLogger IoT.

I wanted to confirm:

  1. Is it electrically and practically okay to chain two Qwiic MultiPorts and connect 6 IMUs on the same I2C bus?

  2. Do SEN-20176 and SEN-19895 have configurable I2C addresses, or will there be address conflicts when using multiple identical IMUs?

  3. Does the DataLogger IoT firmware support logging from multiple IMUs of the same type simultaneously?

  4. If there are address conflicts, is using an I2C multiplexer (like TCA9548A) the recommended approach with the DataLogger IoT?

  5. Are there any power or I2C bus limitations I should consider with this many sensors on one bus?

Any guidance or recommended architecture would be really helpful.

Thanks!

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You must use I2C multiplexer. Otherwise 5 identical 6-axis IMUs + 1 similar 9-DoF IMU on a single I2C bus would likely arise address collisions. TCA9548A will be enough.

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Hi @Ashootosh ,

As far as I am aware, the DataLogger IoT Firmware (Flux) does not support I2C multiplexing.

Certainly it did not for the first few releases. Support may have been added recently, but I don’t remember seeing any messages about that.

Best wishes,
Paul

4

Indeed, from the hookup guide “Typically one would use a multiplexor. However, we currently do not have the DataLogger IoT configured to work with any multiplexors (i.e. Qwiic Mux Breakout).”