iPhone 4 Gyroscope Lateral Motion?

[Pinksteady]

Quick question : can anyone confirm for sure if the iPhone 4's gyroscope can accurately detect lateral motion (ie motion purely in a straight line), as opposed to rotational movement?

 

[crazytiger86]

As far as I know, no.

A gyroscope by definition is a device for measuring or maintaining orientation. If the iPhone's orientation is the same (i.e. laterally as if moving in a line), it follows to reason that it would not detect it without some other third party help i.e. GPS, and even then, it may not do so "accurately".

 

[iUser4Lyfe]

No Gyroscope can.

If you find one that can, by definition, it is not a gyroscope.

 

[BlackViper]

Why not

It is true that the gyroscope will only measure orientation, the iDevices also have an accelerometer which, when combined with the Gyro, can (as I understand) detect lateral motion(or acceleration that would imply motion). Not sure how accurate a measurement you would get but might be enough for your purposes.

 

[Infraggable Kru]

It is true that the gyroscope will only measure orientation, the iDevices also have an accelerometer which, when combined with the Gyro, can (as I understand) detect lateral motion(or acceleration that would imply motion). Not sure how accurate a measurement you would get but might be enough for your purposes.

Sorry but this is incorrect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6uVrYz-j70

Gyroscopes measure orientation = deviation from a set angle
Accelerometer Measures acceleration = deviation in velocity

Neither of which detects pure Lateral motion

example
if you have a phone on a flat table it will not activate the gyroscope
if you start moving the phone the accelerometer will detect when you start moving it

but if you maintain a constant speed the accelerometer will zero out, even if you change directions