Shenzhen Mingjiada Electronics Co., Ltd. supplies and recycles the LIS3DSH, a high-performance, ultra-low-power, three-axis linear accelerometer with SPI/I²C digital outputs, suitable for drone applications.
The ST LIS3DSH is a high-performance, low-power, three-axis linear MEMS accelerometer, specifically designed for dynamic motion monitoring, attitude sensing and vibration detection. Equipped with standard dual SPI/I²C digital output interfaces, it combines high precision, high stability, low noise and flexible configuration, perfectly meeting the core requirements for flight control, attitude estimation and motion monitoring in consumer and industrial drones. It serves as a key sensing component in drone navigation and safety control systems.
The LIS3DSH incorporates a state machine, enabling customised applications through programming. The device measures acceleration with an output data rate ranging from 3.125 Hz to 1.6 kHz, and features dynamically selectable ranges of ±2g, ±4g, ±6g, ±8g and ±16g.
I. Key Features of the LIS3DSH
Wide supply voltage range: 1.71 V to 3.6 V
Ultra-low power consumption: Current consumption in operating mode ranges from 11 µA to 225 µA, depending on the output data rate.
16-bit data output: Provides high-resolution acceleration data.
Embedded state machines: Two programmable state machines for implementing gesture recognition, free-fall detection, wake-up functions and other applications.
FIFO buffer: An integrated first-in, first-out (FIFO) buffer for storing data, reducing the need for continuous intervention by the host processor.
Temperature sensor: Built-in temperature sensor for monitoring environmental conditions.
Self-test function: Allows users to verify sensor functionality within the end application.
II. Core Hardware Performance of the LIS3DSH, Suited to Dynamic Drone Flight Conditions
During drone flight, it is necessary to capture in real time minute changes in acceleration caused by subtle attitude deviations, rapid ascents and descents, roll and pitch movements, and airflow disturbances. The LIS3DSH meets these demanding dynamic monitoring requirements thanks to its outstanding sensing performance. Equipped with a 16-bit high-precision analogue-to-digital converter, the device simultaneously detects spatial acceleration data along the X, Y and Z axes. With a noise density as low as 150 µg/√Hz, it can accurately capture faint vibrations and minute angular deviations during drone flight, significantly enhancing attitude calculation accuracy and effectively mitigating attitude drift issues during low-altitude flight and slow hovering.
The sensor supports four programmable acceleration range settings—±2g, ±4g, ±8g and ±16g—to accommodate the operational requirements of different drone types: consumer-grade aerial photography drones can utilise the lower ranges of ±2g or ±4g to achieve stable hovering and precise anti-shake monitoring; racing drones and industrial inspection drones can switch to the high-range settings of ±8g or ±16g, perfectly adapting to high-intensity dynamic scenarios such as high-speed flight, rapid manoeuvres, and dive-and-climb manoeuvres, whilst preventing data distortion caused by exceeding the measurement range. Furthermore, its output data rate is flexibly adjustable with a wide bandwidth, enabling rapid response to instantaneous changes in the drone’s motion state and ensuring the real-time accuracy of flight data.
In terms of hardware stability, the LIS3DSH utilises proven MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology and features a built-in hardware self-test function. This allows the sensor module’s operational status to be autonomously verified during the drone’s power-on self-test or whilst in flight, enabling prompt identification of hardware faults and enhancing operational reliability. The device utilises a compact package, making it small and lightweight so as not to increase the load on the drone’s airframe. This aligns with the design trend towards lighter and smaller drones, whilst also offering excellent resistance to vibration and interference, enabling it to withstand sensor interference caused by air turbulence and airframe vibrations during outdoor flight.
3. Dual SPI/I²C Interfaces for Compatibility with Diverse UAV Hardware Architectures
The LIS3DSH comes standard with dual industrial-grade digital communication interfaces—I²C and SPI—allowing direct compatibility with mainstream UAV main control chips without the need for additional conversion circuits. This significantly simplifies hardware circuit design, enhances system compatibility and expandability, and supports UAV hardware solutions at various levels.
The I²C interface features simple wiring, minimal pin usage and extremely low communication power consumption, making it suitable for small consumer-grade drones and portable aerial photography drones. When paired with the main controller, it enables low-power standby and extended cruise monitoring, effectively enhancing the drone’s flight endurance. The SPI interface offers the advantages of high transmission rates, strong interference resistance and extremely low data latency. It meets the high-frequency data transmission requirements of high-speed racing drones, industrial-grade surveying drones and inspection drones, ensuring real-time synchronisation of flight attitude data with the flight control system and providing data support for rapid attitude adjustments and precise flight path corrections. The dual interfaces allow for flexible switching between configurations, making it suitable for both low-cost single-unit solutions and high-performance professional equipment solutions, offering exceptional adaptability.
IV. LIS3DSH Intelligent Embedded Functions: Enhancing Drone Flight Safety and Intelligent Control
The LIS3DSH incorporates a variety of intelligent motion detection algorithms and interrupt functions. Without the need for frequent calculations by the main controller, it can autonomously determine the drone’s motion state, reducing computational load on the flight control system and improving system response efficiency; its core functions are highly tailored to drone application scenarios. The device supports 6D attitude and orientation detection, enabling real-time identification of changes in the drone’s pitch, roll and yaw angles, and accurately determining the airframe’s status—whether level, tilted or inverted—thereby providing core data support for drone attitude stabilisation and level calibration.
Furthermore, it integrates free-fall detection, motion/idle status monitoring, and single/double-tap vibration detection functions to provide multi-layered safety protection for the drone: the free-fall interrupt can rapidly identify uncontrolled falls, triggering protective mechanisms such as emergency power cut-off and parachute deployment to minimise damage from crashes; motion/idle detection can determine whether the drone is hovering, flying or stationary, working in conjunction with the system to enable intelligent power consumption regulation; vibration detection monitors potential faults such as abnormal motor vibrations or loose structural components, providing early warnings of equipment anomalies to enhance flight safety and stability.
V. LIS3DSH Ultra-Low Power Consumption Design, Tailored to UAV Endurance Requirements
UAV endurance is one of the core performance indicators. The LIS3DSH features multi-level ultra-low power consumption operating modes and supports dynamic power consumption adjustment, switching operating modes according to the UAV’s flight status: during normal flight, standard data acquisition mode is activated to ensure high-precision data output; switches to low-power mode during hovering or fixed-point patrols to significantly reduce operational power consumption; and enters sleep mode when idle without a mission, minimising battery drain. The device’s operating voltage is compatible with low-voltage power supply systems, aligning with the characteristics of drone lithium-ion batteries; no voltage regulator or adapter module is required, further optimising the overall power consumption of the drone and effectively extending its flight duration.
VI. Key Application Scenarios for the LIS3DSH in UAVs
1. Flight Attitude Estimation and Stabilisation Control: Real-time acquisition of three-axis acceleration data, combined with gyroscopes and magnetometers to achieve multi-sensor fusion, enables stable UAV hovering, flight path correction and attitude balancing, ensuring smooth aerial photography and surveying operations.
2. Intelligent Safety Protection: Utilising free-fall and abnormal attitude detection functions, it provides crash protection, attitude loss warnings and monitoring for abnormal vibration faults, comprehensively enhancing drone flight safety.
3. Intelligent Motion State Recognition: Accurately identifies drone states such as flight, hovering, start/stop, and rapid manoeuvres; works in conjunction with the flight control system to enable intelligent power management and automatic switching between operational modes.
4. High-Precision Anti-Shake Assistance: Provides precise acceleration data for gimbal stabilisation and image stabilisation in aerial photography drones, offsetting minute vibrations and attitude deviations in the airframe to enhance the quality of aerial photography and surveying imagery.
VII. LIS3DSH Product Summary
The ST LIS3DSH three-axis linear accelerometer, with its five core advantages—high precision and low noise, dual-interface compatibility, integrated intelligent functions, ultra-low power consumption and high stability—precisely meets the full-scenario requirements of UAVs for attitude control, safety monitoring, power consumption optimisation, and anti-vibration stabilisation. Compared to traditional accelerometers, it offers greater flexibility in configuration, broader adaptability and enhanced functionality, comprehensively meeting the design requirements of consumer-grade, industrial-grade and racing drones. It represents a cost-effective and highly reliable core sensing solution for drone flight control systems.
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