Wireless IMU

Wireless IMU: Transform Your Smartphone into a Wireless Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU)

The Wireless IMU application is a versatile tool that leverages the power of your smartphone to function as a wireless inertial measurement unit (IMU). By utilizing the built-in inertial sensors of your device, this app streams real-time data such as accelerometer and gyroscope readings through the local network using the User Datagram Protocol (UDP) in Comma-Separated Values (CSV) format. This transformation enables users to harness their smartphones as portable wireless IMUs, providing a cost-effective and convenient solution for various applications.

The app supports three primary types of sensors found in most modern smartphones: the accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer. The accelerometer measures linear acceleration, the gyroscope tracks angular velocity, while the magnetometer provides data on magnetic field orientation. If your phone lacks one or more of these sensors, the app intelligently adapts by transmitting only the available sensor data. For instance, an example UDP packet might include readings like 890.71558, 3, 0.076, 9.809, 0.565, 4, -0.559, 0.032, -0.134, 5, -21.660, -36.960, -28.140. Each line of data contains a timestamp in seconds, followed by sensor IDs and corresponding x, y, z-axis values. Sensor IDs correspond to specific types of measurements: ID 3 represents the accelerometer (in m/s²), ID 4 corresponds to the gyroscope (in rad/s), and ID 5 denotes the magnetometer (in micro-Tesla).

One of the standout features of the Wireless IMU app is its ability to operate in the background without disrupting other tasks on your smartphone. However, it is essential to note that the app requires a stable Wi-Fi connection to ensure reliable data transmission. If no Wi-Fi network is detected, a warning dialog will appear, reminding users of the potential connectivity issues.

The flexibility of this app extends beyond its core functionality. Users can process the streamed data in numerous ways, depending on their needs. For example, the provided Python script demonstrates how to capture UDP packets from the smartphone and log them for further analysis. This opens up possibilities for integrating the data into advanced algorithms, such as Kalman filtering, as showcased in the example video where the stream was directly processed by a MATLAB script. The choice of what to do with the data lies entirely in the hands of the user, offering immense potential for innovation across fields like robotics, motion tracking, biomechanics, and more.

Another notable aspect of the Wireless IMU app is its ease of use. It can be installed and configured quickly, making it accessible even for those unfamiliar with complex technical setups. Furthermore, the app ensures compatibility with various operating systems, allowing users to connect their phones to any computer within the same network seamlessly.

In summary, the Wireless IMU app transforms your smartphone into a powerful wireless IMU by streaming sensor data over a local network. Whether you're working on research projects, educational experiments, or hobbyist tinkering, this app provides a flexible and efficient way to access high-quality sensor data. Its compatibility with multiple platforms, support for diverse sensors, and adaptability make it an invaluable tool for anyone looking to explore the world of motion sensing technology.