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

Terrific app, gives access to the raw data coming from all of the sensors. I last used it to detect the magnetic field fluctuations produced by a water meter while troubleshooting a Flume sensor - it produced an impressively clean signal. Some suggestions for the developers: 1) Make it more obvious when data is being recorded, like change the color of the record button or screen border (i.e., only red while actually recording). I lost some data a couple times because I thought it was recording when it wasn't - it can be tricky see the screen in detail when collecting data sometimes. 2) When the app is re-opened, go back to the same sensor it was in previously. 3) Make an easy way to generate an FFT of data recorded from any channel - for the water meter, it would have been nice to be able to get a read of the frequency of the magnetometer data. This could also be useful as a tachometer for motors, etc.

This app is an easy and effective way to transform the sensors in your phone into a versatile tool set. I used the magnetometer, for example, during my doctoral research at Penn State to map out the geomagnetic field of our vacuum chamber. I used the accelerometer while teaching to measure vibrations during structural tests of students' designs. At NASA, I've used the audio spectrogram to identify faulty pumps. And for personal use, I've used the audio spectrogram to identify birds in my backyard and the tone generator to tune my instruments. And, this app is essential for the curios who just wants to know more about the physical world around him or her. The graphical interface is not pleasing and sometimes confusing, but the app is very stable and reliable. Vieyra team is very response to emails, and gladly takes feature requests. EDIT: typos

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.

What's new

Added support for Android 13