diff --git a/src/bmx055/bmc150.cxx b/src/bmx055/bmc150.cxx
index 8b8af2e6..f271cc09 100644
--- a/src/bmx055/bmc150.cxx
+++ b/src/bmx055/bmc150.cxx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
 
+#include "upm_string_parser.hpp"
 #include "bmc150.hpp"
 
 using namespace upm;
@@ -55,6 +56,71 @@ BMC150::BMC150(int accelBus, int accelAddr, int accelCS,
         m_mag->init();
 }
 
+BMC150::BMC150(std::string initStr)
+{
+    int accelBus = BMC150_DEFAULT_BUS;
+    int accelAddr = BMC150_DEFAULT_ACC_ADDR;
+    int accelCS = -1;
+    int magBus = BMC150_DEFAULT_BUS;
+    int magAddr = BMC150_DEFAULT_MAG_ADDR;
+    int magCS = -1;
+
+    std::vector<std::string> upmTokens;
+    upmTokens = UpmStringParser::parse(initStr);
+
+    for(std::string tok : upmTokens)
+    {
+        if(tok.substr(0, 9) == "accelBus:")
+            accelBus = std::stoi(tok.substr(9), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 10) == "accelAddr:")
+            accelAddr = std::stoi(tok.substr(10), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 8) == "accelCS:")
+            accelCS = std::stoi(tok.substr(8), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 7) == "magBus:")
+            magBus = std::stoi(tok.substr(7), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 8) == "magAddr:")
+            magAddr = std::stoi(tok.substr(8), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 6) == "magCS:")
+            magCS = std::stoi(tok.substr(6), nullptr, 0);
+    }
+
+    // if -1 is supplied as a bus for any of these, we will not
+    // instantiate them
+
+    if (accelBus >= 0)
+        m_accel = new BMA250E(accelBus, accelAddr, accelCS);
+
+    if (magBus >= 0)
+        m_mag = new BMM150(magBus, magAddr, magCS);
+
+    // now initialize them...
+    if (m_accel)
+        m_accel->init();
+
+    if (m_mag)
+        m_mag->init();
+
+    std::string::size_type sz, prev_sz;
+    for(std::string tok : upmTokens)
+    {
+        if(tok.substr(0, 18) == "initAccelerometer:")
+        {
+            BMA250E_POWER_MODE_T pwr = (BMA250E_POWER_MODE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(18), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(18);
+            prev_sz = sz;
+            BMA250E_RANGE_T range = (BMA250E_RANGE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(prev_sz + 1), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(prev_sz + 1);
+            BMA250E_BW_T bw = (BMA250E_BW_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(sz + 1), nullptr, 0);
+            initAccelerometer(pwr, range, bw);
+        }
+        if(tok.substr(0, 17) == "initMagnetometer:")
+        {
+            BMM150_USAGE_PRESETS_T usage = (BMM150_USAGE_PRESETS_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(17), nullptr, 0);
+            initMagnetometer(usage);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 BMC150::~BMC150()
 {
     if (m_accel)
diff --git a/src/bmx055/bmc150.hpp b/src/bmx055/bmc150.hpp
index 1f9233d0..906a32b0 100644
--- a/src/bmx055/bmc150.hpp
+++ b/src/bmx055/bmc150.hpp
@@ -100,6 +100,13 @@ namespace upm {
                int magAddr=BMC150_DEFAULT_MAG_ADDR,
                int magCS=-1);
 
+        /**
+         * Instantiates bmc150 6-axis Ecompass based on a given string.
+         *
+         * @param initStr string containing specific information for bmc150 initialization.
+         */
+        BMC150(std::string initStr);
+
         /**
          * BMC150 Destructor.
          */
diff --git a/src/bmx055/bmi055.cxx b/src/bmx055/bmi055.cxx
index f8edd973..cba3bebf 100644
--- a/src/bmx055/bmi055.cxx
+++ b/src/bmx055/bmi055.cxx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include <string>
 
 #include "bmi055.hpp"
+#include "upm_string_parser.hpp"
 
 using namespace upm;
 using namespace std;
@@ -55,6 +56,77 @@ BMI055::BMI055(int accelBus, int accelAddr, int accelCS,
         m_gyro->init();
 }
 
+BMI055::BMI055(std::string initStr) : m_accel(0), m_gyro(0)
+{
+    int accelBus = BMA250E_DEFAULT_I2C_BUS;
+    int accelAddr = BMA250E_DEFAULT_ADDR;
+    int accelCS = -1;
+    int gyroBus = BMG160_DEFAULT_I2C_BUS;
+    int gyroAddr = BMG160_DEFAULT_ADDR;
+    int gyroCS = -1;
+
+    std::vector<std::string> upmTokens;
+    upmTokens = UpmStringParser::parse(initStr);
+
+    for(std::string tok : upmTokens)
+    {
+        if(tok.substr(0, 9) == "accelBus:")
+            accelBus = std::stoi(tok.substr(9), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 10) == "accelAddr:")
+            accelAddr = std::stoi(tok.substr(10), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 8) == "accelCS:")
+            accelCS = std::stoi(tok.substr(8), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 8) == "gyroBus:")
+            gyroBus = std::stoi(tok.substr(8), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 9) == "gyroAddr:")
+            gyroAddr = std::stoi(tok.substr(9), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 7) == "gyroCS:")
+            gyroCS = std::stoi(tok.substr(7), nullptr, 0);
+    }
+
+    // if -1 is supplied as a bus for any of these, we will not
+    // instantiate them
+
+    if (accelBus >= 0)
+        m_accel = new BMA250E(accelBus, accelAddr, accelCS);
+
+    if (gyroBus >= 0)
+        m_gyro = new BMG160(gyroBus, gyroAddr, gyroCS);
+
+    // now initialize them...
+    if (m_accel)
+        m_accel->init();
+
+    if (m_gyro)
+        m_gyro->init();
+
+    std::string::size_type sz, prev_sz;
+    for(std::string tok : upmTokens)
+    {
+        if(tok.substr(0, 18) == "initAccelerometer:")
+        {
+            BMA250E_POWER_MODE_T pwr = (BMA250E_POWER_MODE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(18), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(18);
+            prev_sz = sz;
+            BMA250E_RANGE_T range = (BMA250E_RANGE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(prev_sz + 1), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(prev_sz + 1);
+            BMA250E_BW_T bw = (BMA250E_BW_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(sz + 1), nullptr, 0);
+            initAccelerometer(pwr, range, bw);
+        }
+        if(tok.substr(0, 14) == "initGyroscope:")
+        {
+            BMG160_POWER_MODE_T pwr = (BMG160_POWER_MODE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(14), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(14);
+            prev_sz = sz;
+            BMG160_RANGE_T range = (BMG160_RANGE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(prev_sz + 1), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(prev_sz + 1);
+            BMG160_BW_T bw = (BMG160_BW_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(sz + 1), nullptr, 0);
+            initGyroscope(pwr, range, bw);
+        }
+    }
+
+}
+
 BMI055::~BMI055()
 {
     if (m_accel)
diff --git a/src/bmx055/bmi055.hpp b/src/bmx055/bmi055.hpp
index e2c50952..dbfc8081 100644
--- a/src/bmx055/bmi055.hpp
+++ b/src/bmx055/bmi055.hpp
@@ -94,6 +94,13 @@ namespace upm {
                int gyroAddr=BMG160_DEFAULT_ADDR,
                int gyroCS=-1);
 
+        /**
+         * Instantiates bmi055 based on a given string.
+         *
+         * @param initStr string containing specific information for bmi055 initialization.
+         */
+        BMI055(std::string initStr);
+
         /**
          * BMI055 Destructor.
          */
diff --git a/src/bmx055/bmx055.cxx b/src/bmx055/bmx055.cxx
index 4fbc5c70..947dcac4 100644
--- a/src/bmx055/bmx055.cxx
+++ b/src/bmx055/bmx055.cxx
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include <string>
 
 #include "bmx055.hpp"
+#include "upm_string_parser.hpp"
 
 using namespace upm;
 using namespace std;
@@ -52,6 +53,88 @@ BMX055::BMX055(int accelBus, int accelAddr, int accelCS,
         m_mag = new BMM150(magBus, magAddr, magCS);
 }
 
+BMX055::BMX055(std::string initStr) :m_accel(0), m_gyro(0), m_mag(0)
+{
+    int accelBus = BMA250E_DEFAULT_I2C_BUS;
+    int accelAddr = BMA250E_DEFAULT_ADDR;
+    int accelCS = -1;
+
+    int gyroBus = BMG160_DEFAULT_I2C_BUS;
+    int gyroAddr = BMG160_DEFAULT_ADDR;
+    int gyroCS = -1;
+
+    int magBus = BMM150_DEFAULT_I2C_BUS;
+    int magAddr = BMX055_DEFAULT_MAG_I2C_ADDR;
+    int magCS = -1;
+
+    std::vector<std::string> upmTokens;
+    upmTokens = UpmStringParser::parse(initStr);
+
+    for(std::string tok : upmTokens)
+    {
+        if(tok.substr(0, 9) == "accelBus:")
+            accelBus = std::stoi(tok.substr(9), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 10) == "accelAddr:")
+            accelAddr = std::stoi(tok.substr(10), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 8) == "accelCS:")
+            accelCS = std::stoi(tok.substr(8), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 8) == "gyroBus:")
+            gyroBus = std::stoi(tok.substr(8), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 9) == "gyroAddr:")
+            gyroAddr = std::stoi(tok.substr(9), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 7) == "gyroCS:")
+            gyroCS = std::stoi(tok.substr(7), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 7) == "magBus:")
+            magBus = std::stoi(tok.substr(7), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 8) == "magAddr:")
+            magAddr = std::stoi(tok.substr(8), nullptr, 0);
+        if(tok.substr(0, 6) == "magCS:")
+            magCS = std::stoi(tok.substr(6), nullptr, 0);
+    }
+
+    // if -1 is supplied as a bus for any of these, we will not
+    // instantiate them
+
+    if (accelBus >= 0)
+        m_accel = new BMA250E(accelBus, accelAddr, accelCS);
+
+    if (gyroBus >= 0)
+        m_gyro = new BMG160(gyroBus, gyroAddr, gyroCS);
+
+    if (magBus >= 0)
+        m_mag = new BMM150(magBus, magAddr, magCS);
+
+    std::string::size_type sz, prev_sz;
+    for(std::string tok : upmTokens)
+    {
+        if(tok.substr(0, 18) == "initAccelerometer:")
+        {
+            BMA250E_POWER_MODE_T pwr = (BMA250E_POWER_MODE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(18), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(18);
+            prev_sz = sz;
+            BMA250E_RANGE_T range = (BMA250E_RANGE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(prev_sz + 1), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(prev_sz + 1);
+            BMA250E_BW_T bw = (BMA250E_BW_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(sz + 1), nullptr, 0);
+            initAccelerometer(pwr, range, bw);
+        }
+        if(tok.substr(0, 14) == "initGyroscope:")
+        {
+            BMG160_POWER_MODE_T pwr = (BMG160_POWER_MODE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(14), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(14);
+            prev_sz = sz;
+            BMG160_RANGE_T range = (BMG160_RANGE_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(prev_sz + 1), &sz, 0);
+            tok = tok.substr(prev_sz + 1);
+            BMG160_BW_T bw = (BMG160_BW_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(sz + 1), nullptr, 0);
+            initGyroscope(pwr, range, bw);
+        }
+        if(tok.substr(0, 17) == "initMagnetometer:")
+        {
+            BMM150_USAGE_PRESETS_T usage = (BMM150_USAGE_PRESETS_T)std::stoi(tok.substr(17), nullptr, 0);
+            initMagnetometer(usage);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 BMX055::~BMX055()
 {
     if (m_accel)
diff --git a/src/bmx055/bmx055.hpp b/src/bmx055/bmx055.hpp
index 333cd44a..e28dce9e 100644
--- a/src/bmx055/bmx055.hpp
+++ b/src/bmx055/bmx055.hpp
@@ -114,6 +114,13 @@ namespace upm {
                int magAddr=BMX055_DEFAULT_MAG_I2C_ADDR,
                int magCS=-1);
 
+        /**
+         * Instantiates BMX055 based on a given string.
+         *
+         * @param initStr string containing specific information for BMX055 initialization.
+         */
+       BMX055(std::string initStr);
+
         /**
          * BMX055 Destructor.
          */