Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite P

Vieyra Software

About this app

This app uses internal smartphone sensors to collect, display, record, and export .csv data files. See www.vieyrasoftware.net to (1) read about case usage in research and development, and (2) get lesson plans for educators of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, including physics. Sensor availability, precision, and accuracy are dependent upon smartphone hardware.

Sensors, generators, and data analysis tools include the following:

KINEMATICS
G-Force Meter - ratio of Fn/Fg (x, y, z and/or total)
Linear Accelerometer – acceleration (x, y, and/or z)
Gyroscope - radial velocity (x, y, and/or z)
Inclinometer - azimuth, roll, pitch
Protractor - angle from vertical or horizontal

ACOUSTICS
Sound Meter - sound intensity
Tone Detector - frequency and musical tone
Tone Generator – sound frequency producer
Oscilloscope - wave shape and relative amplitude
Spectrum Analyzer - graphical FFT
Spectrogram - waterfall FFT

LIGHT
Light Meter - light intensity
Color Detector - detects HEX colors within a small rectangle area on the screen via the camera.
Color Generator – R/G/B/Y/C/M, white, and custom color screen
Proximeter - periodic motion and timer (timer and pendulum modes)
Stroboscope (beta) - camera flash
Wi-Fi - Wi-Fi signal strength

MAGNETISM
Compass - magnetic field direction and bubble level
Magnetometer - magnetic field intensity (x, y, z and/or total)
Magna-AR - augmented reality visualization of magnetic field vectors

OTHER
Barometer - atmospheric pressure
Ruler - distance between two points
GPS - latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, direction, number of satellites
System Temperature - battery temperature

COMBINATION
Multi Record - choose one or more of the above sensors to collect data at the same time.
Dual Sensor - display data from two sensors on a graph in real time.
Roller Coaster - G-Force Meter, Linear Accelerometer, Gyroscope, and Barometer

PLOTTING
Manual Data Plot - enter data manually to generate a graph.

GAME
Play - challenges

FEATURES
(a) Record: Record by pressing the red floating action button. Find saved data stored in the folder icon.
(b) Export: Export data by selecting an option to send via e-mail or shared in Google Drive or Dropbox. Locally saved files can also be transferred from the folder icon.
(c) Sensor Information: Clicking on the (i) icon to identify sensor name, vendor, and current data collection rate, and to learn what kind of data is collected by the sensor, its physical operating principle, and links to additional resources.

SETTINGS
* Note that not all settings are available for all sensors.
(a) Data Display: View data in graphical, digital, or vector form.
(b) Graph Display: View multi-dimensional data sets on a single shared graph or in multiple individual graphs.
(c) Displayed Axis: For multi-dimensional data on a single shared graph, select total, x, y, and/or z-axis data.
(d) CSV Timestamp Format: Record clock time or elapsed time with sensor data.
(e) Line Width: Modify visual presentation of data with a Thin, Medium, or Thick line.
(f) Sensor Collection Rate: Set collection rate as Fastest, Game, UI, or Normal. The sensor collection rate is displayed for each option when selected.
(g) Keep the Screen On: Prevent the app from turning the screen off automatically.
(h) Calibrate: Calibrate selected sensors.

Ratings and reviews

There are a wealth of tools on this app - like one of those massive Swiss army knives. But, like the knife is too cumbersome for long backpacking trips, so too is this physics app. I wonder if I would remember to use the stroboscope to set up a controllable phone-only lighting rig array at my next show. Still, it offers what other sensor apps offer, and then some. Some applets are buggy, but most work. Highly recommend this if you only get one.

I loved the free version, so I had to get the pro version. I found that while trying to access the magnetometer's settings the app kicks me to my homepage, others' settings will switch it back to G-force meter. Also, if I rotate my phone while using anything other than the G-force meter, the app immediately reverts back to the G-force meter (also happened on the free version). Still a great app. Quiet entertaining. Wish you could set a particular meter for app start up. Galaxy S10

A great app. It was maddening that when I changed to the barometer feature the app crashed every time on my Pixel XL. I was contacted by the developer who suggested that I "long press" the app icon and go to the app info and clear the cache and memory. That fixed the problem I was having. Great to hear from an app developer so quickly and with good, clear instructions on how to make things right.