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

This suite of tools is way more useful than I originally thought. I got it to see if my device actually had a barometer but then I discovered you could use it to find paint colors, distinguish bird calls, diagnose automotive engine sounds, find magnetic materials, monitor driving habits, and so much more. This tool is worth every penny and then some. I can even use it to see the high frequency squeaks of my guinea pig so he can tell me what he wants before I put it in his food bowl.

Great app! I especially like the sound spectrogram for visualizing bird calls. Sometimes it "shows" me calls that I didn't hear before I knew what to listen for. A feature I'd like to see is (instead of all red) a color spectral presentation of the spectrogram that repeats by octave. That would help identify overtones, especially with musical instruments. Also it would be good if the app always opened in the sensor I was using when I closed it.

This is the app I was looking for to record data from the phone sensors and have analysis offline. It is impressive that it can record raw data with a good sample rate. I see the sample rate varies on the recorded data and I guess that might be related to the phone processing power, but still great and fast enough for what I need. I don’t see any ads on the free version and don’t know what the pro version does, but I will buy the pro version with satisfaction. Congratulations on your work.