---
# System prepended metadata

title: Application of 3-axis acceleration sensor
tags: [Sensor]

---

A 3-axis [accelerometer](https://www.onzuu.com/category/accelerometers) measures acceleration on X/Y/Z, so you can detect tilt (gravity vector), motion, vibration, and impacts. Below are the most common applications, with real, widely-used [sensor](https://www.ampheo.com/c/sensors) models and why they fit.

![1558007_446a1c9b-a4e9-4034-b063-05a2ab1dff2f](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SkdGhJdX-g.jpg)

**1) Wearables & consumer devices (steps, gestures, screen rotation, wake-on-motion)**

* Step counting / tap & gesture detection (watches, earbuds, remotes)
[Bosch](https://www.ampheo.com/manufacturer/bosch-sensortec) [BMA456](https://www.ampheo.com/product/bma456-26803624) – a triaxial low-g accelerometer with smart features like tap sensing and “plug-and-play” step counting optimized for low-power wearables.

* Always-on motion detect with very low power (sleep trackers, IoT tags)
[ST](https://www.ampheo.com/manufacturer/stmicroelectronics) [LIS2DW12](https://www.ampheo.com/product/lis2dw12-26804197) – ultra-low-power 3-axis accelerometer with wide ODR range (1.6 Hz to 1600 Hz) and FIFO; ST’s app note highlights “always-on” use and very low current in low-power modes. 

* Ultra-low power wearables / smart home motion
Bosch [BMA400](https://www.ampheo.com/product/bma400-26802804) – marketed as an ultra-low-power triaxial accelerometer for long battery life, with motion/position interrupts and activity tracking use cases. 

* General-purpose / hobby / education ([Arduino](https://www.ampheo.com/c/development-board-arduino)/[STM32](https://www.ampheo.com/search/STM32) projects)
[Analog Devices](https://www.ampheo.com/manufacturer/analog-devices-inc) [ADXL345](https://www.ampheo.com/search/ADXL354) – classic 3-axis digital accelerometer (I²C/SPI), supports ±2/±4/±8/±16 g and can measure both dynamic motion and static gravity for tilt sensing. 

**2) Industrial vibration monitoring & predictive maintenance (motors, pumps, gearboxes)**

* Wideband vibration sensing (condition monitoring, FFT-based diagnostics)
ST [IIS3DWB](https://www.ampheo.com/product/iis3dwbtr-26803422) – explicitly positioned as a “3-axis digital vibration sensor” with ultrawide/flat frequency response, suitable for industrial vibration monitoring. 

* Precision/low-noise vibration or tilt (structural health, instrumentation)
Analog Devices [ADXL355](https://www.ampheo.com/search/ADXL355) – designed for low noise and stable offset drift, often chosen when you care about measurement stability and calibration effort. 

* High-resolution tilt / leveling instruments
ST [LIS3DHH](https://www.ampheo.com/product/lis3dhhtr-26802968) – described as ultra-high-resolution and low-noise, with typical applications like precision inclinometers and leveling instruments. 

**3) Shock / impact detection & event logging (logistics, sports safety, asset tracking)**

**Drop/shock loggers, head-impact monitoring, harsh handling detection**
Analog Devices [ADXL372](https://www.ampheo.com/search/ADXL372) – an ultra-low-power ±200 g 3-axis accelerometer intended for impact/shock detection, including concussion/head-trauma type use cases. 

**4) Automotive (non-safety) sensing (anti-theft, ride events, telematics)**

**Non-safety automotive motion/orientation detection**
ST [AIS2DW12](https://www.ampheo.com/product/ais2dw12tr-26803770) – specifically described as a 3-axis accelerometer designed for non-safety automotive applications, with selectable ranges and low ODRs suited to always-on monitoring. 

**5) Industrial & medical IoT (battery tags, wearables, patient monitoring)**

**Ultra-low-power wake-up on motion for IoT nodes**
[NXP](https://www.ampheo.com/manufacturer/nxp-semiconductors) [FXLS8974CF](https://www.ampheo.com/product/fxls8974cfr3-26803083) – described as a compact 3-axis accelerometer for industrial/medical IoT, emphasizing ultra-low-power motion wake-up. 

**Quick “how to choose” (rules of thumb)**

* Human motion / wearables: ±2g to ±8g, low power, FIFO + motion interrupts (e.g., LIS2DW12, BMA400/BMA456). 
* Vibration diagnostics: prioritize bandwidth + low noise + stable sensitivity (e.g., IIS3DWB, ADXL355). 
* Shock logging: need high-g range + fast sampling (e.g., [ADXL372](https://www.ampheoelec.de/search/ADXL372) ±200 g). 
* Automotive always-on (non-safety): automotive-qualified families like AIS2DW12.