Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite

Name: Physics Toolbox Sensor Suite
Rating: 4.7 (1548 reviews)
Author: Chrystian Vieyra

Sensor Data Visualization Tool

Free · In‑App Purchases · Designed for iPad

1.5K Ratings
Ages

4+
Years
Category

Utilities
Developer

Chrystian Vieyra
Language

EN
+ 25 More
Size

98.7
MB

Whether you’re a student, educator, researcher, or hobbyist, Physics Toolbox transforms your smartphone’s built-in sensors into a powerful suite of scientific instruments. Easily measure, record, analyze, and export real-time data for a variety of uses—from classroom experiments to cutting-edge research. KINEMATICS G-Force Meter Linear Accelerometer Gyroscope Inclinometer Motion Visualizer (LiDAR-tracked position and velocity) ACOUSTICS Sound Meter Tone Detector Tone Generator Oscilloscope Spectrum Analyzer Spectrogram LIGHT Light Meter Color Detector Proximeter Stroboscope MAGNETISM Compass Magnetometer Magna-AR (AR visualization of magnetic field vectors) OTHER Barometer GPS - latitude, longitude, altitude, speed, direction, number of satellites Ruler-AR (AR-estimated measurements) COMBINATION Multi Record Roller Coaster GAME Play (data-verified challenges)

Ratings & Reviews

4.7

out of 5

1.5K Ratings

Outstanding Teaching and Learning Tool
10/17/2024

astroclubguy
I taught physics for 30 years and wish this tool had been around back then (the phones too of course). I have an iPhone 15 Pro Max and the software says it doesn’t detect a proximity sensor. Of course the phone has one and it’s functioning properly so I think there’s a bug in detecting the sensor’s presence. Other than that, I feel this is an essential tool for the introductory physics curriculum. UPDATE: Proximity sensor detection is working in the latest update! Thank you!

Developer Response
Thank you for the review. We are glad the issues with the proximeter were resolved in the latest release. We are implementing several improvements across the app. If you have any additional feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at support@vieyrasoftware.net.
Outstanding Teaching and Learning Tool
10/17/2024

astroclubguy

I taught physics for 30 years and wish this tool had been around back then (the phones too of course). I have an iPhone 15 Pro Max and the software says it doesn’t detect a proximity sensor. Of course the phone has one and it’s functioning properly so I think there’s a bug in detecting the sensor’s presence. Other than that, I feel this is an essential tool for the introductory physics curriculum. UPDATE: Proximity sensor detection is working in the latest update! Thank you!
Developer Response 10/18/2024
Thank you for the review. We are glad the issues with the proximeter were resolved in the latest release. We are implementing several improvements across the app. If you have any additional feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at support@vieyrasoftware.net.
Implement and improve privacy controls
09/19/2022

zzz97
This app has access to more sensor data than any other app. However, none of these privacy controls appear in the privacy menu of settings. Once you “give permission“ to this app it kind of doesn’t ask anymore. For every single asset which this app has access to, such as the gyroscope or the microphone or the camera or the magnetometer or any sensory input data, there should be a button in the settings menu for privacy that will allow us to control that. If I want to only allow the magnetometer, I should be able to disable everything else and only allow the magnetometer. If I want to only allow the gyroscope, I should be able to disable everything else and only allow the gyroscope. The sensor and usage data is also a very touchy issue in Apple settings all by itself, because they don’t really intend to give you privacy either. If you say yes, you could never take it back you can never undo it and then every app will be able to access this data. Our gyroscope and magnetometer should have the same amount of privacy protections as our gyroscope and magnetometer. I should be able to totally throttle all sensory input access to this app as well as any app. Including and especially the sensor suite.
Implement and improve privacy controls
09/19/2022

zzz97

This app has access to more sensor data than any other app. However, none of these privacy controls appear in the privacy menu of settings. Once you “give permission“ to this app it kind of doesn’t ask anymore. For every single asset which this app has access to, such as the gyroscope or the microphone or the camera or the magnetometer or any sensory input data, there should be a button in the settings menu for privacy that will allow us to control that. If I want to only allow the magnetometer, I should be able to disable everything else and only allow the magnetometer. If I want to only allow the gyroscope, I should be able to disable everything else and only allow the gyroscope. The sensor and usage data is also a very touchy issue in Apple settings all by itself, because they don’t really intend to give you privacy either. If you say yes, you could never take it back you can never undo it and then every app will be able to access this data. Our gyroscope and magnetometer should have the same amount of privacy protections as our gyroscope and magnetometer. I should be able to totally throttle all sensory input access to this app as well as any app. Including and especially the sensor suite.
To export CSV you need the individual apps not the suite!
07/02/2020

SeqJ
I downloaded the “suite” and was unable to export data. The 3d magnetic field visualization was cool, but I otherwise found the apps contained in the suite to be unuseful since there is no way to get the data out! So this is rudimentary compared to the individual apps for each purpose (search for “accelerometer” and “magnetometer” apps from the same developer.) The suite does NOT let you save and export csv data, while the individual apps do. Acceleration rate on my ipad is not sufficient to resolve harmonic oscillations (for a low frequency oscillation either the acceleration is too low or you are at or below the Nyquist rate.) But this isnt an app issue but rather a hardware limitation.

Developer Response
The suite app allows you to export .csv data just like the individual apps.a
To export CSV you need the individual apps not the suite!
07/02/2020

SeqJ

I downloaded the “suite” and was unable to export data. The 3d magnetic field visualization was cool, but I otherwise found the apps contained in the suite to be unuseful since there is no way to get the data out! So this is rudimentary compared to the individual apps for each purpose (search for “accelerometer” and “magnetometer” apps from the same developer.) The suite does NOT let you save and export csv data, while the individual apps do. Acceleration rate on my ipad is not sufficient to resolve harmonic oscillations (for a low frequency oscillation either the acceleration is too low or you are at or below the Nyquist rate.) But this isnt an app issue but rather a hardware limitation.
Developer Response 09/01/2020
The suite app allows you to export .csv data just like the individual apps.a
Functional
09/22/2020

iD Sam
Useful app, lets you measure sensor valuesSuggestions for future: show degrees for compass, allow toggling between magnetic north and true north, add ambient light sensor (might need to use private IOKit apis), add graph for sound intensity meter, and allow switching between bluetooth microphone, microphone near front facing camera, and microphone near charging portI understand that you might not have time to implement these, but regardless, thank you for the great app!

Developer Response
Thank you for the suggestions. The next update will show compass degrees. We are also working on having a setting for magnetic, and true north selection. Ambient light sensor is not possible, as using a private API would probably be against the app store policies. Thank you for the suggestions regarding the audio input. We will definitively work on adding support for input selection.
Functional
09/22/2020

iD Sam

Useful app, lets you measure sensor valuesSuggestions for future: show degrees for compass, allow toggling between magnetic north and true north, add ambient light sensor (might need to use private IOKit apis), add graph for sound intensity meter, and allow switching between bluetooth microphone, microphone near front facing camera, and microphone near charging portI understand that you might not have time to implement these, but regardless, thank you for the great app!
Developer Response 09/27/2020
Thank you for the suggestions. The next update will show compass degrees. We are also working on having a setting for magnetic, and true north selection. Ambient light sensor is not possible, as using a private API would probably be against the app store policies. Thank you for the suggestions regarding the audio input. We will definitively work on adding support for input selection.