Androids with gyros

[MattCFII]

Using Quick System Info found one more sensor than the other apps on my Captivate, a Rotation Vector Sensor. Anybody know what it is? Sounds similar to a gyro and looking at some google developer hits, it seems some people have crashes if they try to use it without a gyro on board.

Thanks the info on the orientation sensor. How accurate of a sensor is it? In aircraft we only use a compass for 1 axis and then put that info into a gyro, but it makes sense to use the magnetic field for more than that, especially if the magnetic dip issues are avoided and if it doesn't have to be that precise. Do most Android devices that have the magnetic sensor also use it for orientation or does it need a more accurate sensor than a basic one?

I know the "6 Axis Accelerometer" is Samsung taking creative license on the box but I don't know what other sensor they would be using without the gyro. Maybe the orientation sensor output or this rotation vector sensor.

 

[EarlyMon]

Please let us know who is listed as making that sensor. I may be able to find the data sheet for that chip.

 

[MattCFII]

Vendor: Google Inc.

So does that mean it is a software sensor using another piece of hardware?

Here's the android documentation I could find on it:

"The rotation vector represents the orientation of the device as a combination of an angle and an axis, in which the device has rotated through an angle ? around an axis <x, y, z>. The three elements of the rotation vector are <x*sin(?/2), y*sin(?/2), z*sin(?/2)>, such that the magnitude of the rotation vector is equal to sin(?/2), and the direction of the rotation vector is equal to the direction of the axis of rotation. The three elements of the rotation vector are equal to the last three components of a unit quaternion <cos(?/2), x*sin(?/2), y*sin(?/2), z*sin(?/2)>. Elements of the rotation vector are unitless. The x,y, and z axis are defined in the same way as the acceleration sensor.

values[0] x*sin(?/2)
values[1] y*sin(?/2)
values[2] z*sin(?/2)
values[3] cos(?/2) (optional: only if value.length = 4)

 

[hhenne]

Vendor: Google Inc.

So does that mean it is a software sensor using another piece of hardware?

Here's the android documentation I could find on it:

"The rotation vector represents the orientation of the device as a combination of an angle and an axis, in which the device has rotated through an angle ? around an axis <x, y, z>. The three elements of the rotation vector are <x*sin(?/2), y*sin(?/2), z*sin(?/2)>, such that the magnitude of the rotation vector is equal to sin(?/2), and the direction of the rotation vector is equal to the direction of the axis of rotation. The three elements of the rotation vector are equal to the last three components of a unit quaternion <cos(?/2), x*sin(?/2), y*sin(?/2), z*sin(?/2)>. Elements of the rotation vector are unitless. The x,y, and z axis are defined in the same way as the acceleration sensor.

values[0] x*sin(?/2)
values[1] y*sin(?/2)
values[2] z*sin(?/2)
values[3] cos(?/2) (optional: only if value.length = 4)

Yes, I think the rotation sensor is just a rather simple computation of the signal from the accelerometer. I tried to use it in my keyboard app and tested it on the Samsung/Google Nexus S with a gyro. The result was disappointing, not nearly as good as my own computation of the signals from the accelerometer and the gyro. That makes me think, it doesn't include the gyro signal in the computation.

 

[hhenne]

Removed the questionmark after HTC Evo 3D, and added Samsung Galaxy Nexus to positive list

Androids with gyro list is now:

Samsung /Google Nexus S - TESTED
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Samsung i897 Captivate
Samsung Galaxy S
Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II - CONFIRMED
Samsung Infuse 4G

LG optimus 2x
LG Optimus 3D P920 - CONFIRMED
LG Optimus Black P970
LG Optimus Dual

SonyEricsson Xperia play

HTC Sensation
HTC EVO 3D

High end Androids, which seem not to have a gyro included:

SonyEricsson Xperia neo
SonyEricsson Xperia arc

HTC Desire
HTC Incredible S
HTC Thunderbolt
HTC Evo

 

[sleedeane]

The T-989 ( T-mobile's Galaxy S2, Hercules)

 

[dan330]

Evo 4G has one??????

 

[hhenne]

Added HTC Rezound, which has a gyro and Motorola Droid Razr, which hasn't.

Androids with gyro list is now:

Samsung /Google Nexus S - TESTED
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Samsung i897 Captivate
Samsung Galaxy S
Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II - CONFIRMED
Samsung Infuse 4G

LG optimus 2x
LG Optimus 3D P920 - CONFIRMED
LG Optimus Black P970
LG Optimus Dual

SonyEricsson Xperia play

HTC Sensation
HTC EVO 3D
HTC Rezound

High end Androids, which seem not to have a gyro included:

SonyEricsson Xperia neo
SonyEricsson Xperia arc

HTC Desire
HTC Incredible S
HTC Thunderbolt
HTC Evo

Motorola Droid Razr

 

[bmxbubba27]

my samsung admire has gyro. i installed maxikeys and it works great.

 

[mulasien]

Sorry to be OT, but when I saw the topic, I got hungry for some Gyros. Carry on.

LOL. I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought that. Best are the lamb gyros. Yummy!

 

[hhenne]

my samsung admire has gyro. i installed maxikeys and it works great.

Hi,
I don't think Samsung Admire has got a gyro. It has got an accelerometer, and maxikeys will also run with an accelerometer alone, but movements are not so precise, and it is more sensitive to vibrations like a shaking hand.
(BTW, a new release of maxikeys from last week is easier to control)

 

[hhenne]

Added LG Prada and Nitro HD, which have a gyro.
I seem like LG and Samsung are the leaders in this specific field, HTC is in-between, and Sony and Motorola are behind.

Androids with gyro list is now:

Samsung /Google Nexus S - TESTED
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Samsung i897 Captivate
Samsung Galaxy S
Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II - CONFIRMED
Samsung Infuse 4G

LG optimus 2x
LG Optimus 3D P920 - CONFIRMED
LG Optimus Black P970
LG Optimus Dual
LG Prada
LG Nitro HD

SonyEricsson Xperia play

HTC Sensation
HTC EVO 3D
HTC Rezound

High end Androids, which seem not to have a gyro included:

SonyEricsson Xperia neo
SonyEricsson Xperia arc

HTC Desire
HTC Incredible S
HTC Thunderbolt
HTC Evo

Motorola Droid Razr


------
BTW: My keyboard app, which uses the gyroscope has just entered Android Market:
https://market.android.com/details?id=dk.hhenne.android.maxikeys

 

[ulysses4ever]

In comparative article

 

[hhenne]

Updated the list with Samsung Galaxy W and Sony Xperia S, which both have a gyro, and with HTC Desire S, which does not.
Interesting thing is that Galaxy W is mid-priced and that the first mobile from Sony (without Ericsson) includes a gyro.

Androids with gyro list is now:

Samsung /Google Nexus S - TESTED
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Samsung i897 Captivate
Samsung Galaxy S
Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II - CONFIRMED
Samsung Infuse 4G
Samsung Galaxy W

LG optimus 2x
LG Optimus 3D P920 - CONFIRMED
LG Optimus Black P970
LG Optimus Dual
LG Prada
LG Nitro HD

SonyEricsson Xperia play
Sony Xperia S

HTC Sensation
HTC EVO 3D
HTC Rezound

High end Androids, which seem not to have a gyro included:

SonyEricsson Xperia neo
SonyEricsson Xperia arc

HTC Desire
HTC Desire S
HTC Incredible S
HTC Thunderbolt
HTC Evo

Motorola Droid Razr

 

[Pjasi]

This site shows what phones have gyro, but I have no idea how reliable it is.
Geekaphone -The best phones with gyroscopes

 

[EarlyMon]

If anyone wants to check their own phone, I'm now recommending Elixer 2. Not only lists all sensors but you can check read out of any one to confirm. Good stuff.

 

[hhenne]

Thanks for the two links. Geekaphone seems to be quite reliable. I noticed one difference to the list on this site according to the SonyEriccson Xperia Play. I trust the geekaphone information more than my own, because other SonyEricsson information I have got seemed to be wrong. So I removed it from the positive list - and added Sony Xperia ION in stead.
Elixer is great - hope somebody will use it an report gyroscope result to this site.


Androids with gyro list is now:

Samsung /Google Nexus S - TESTED
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Samsung i897 Captivate
Samsung Galaxy S
Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II - CONFIRMED
Samsung Infuse 4G
Samsung Galaxy W

LG optimus 2x
LG Optimus 3D P920 - CONFIRMED
LG Optimus Black P970
LG Optimus Dual
LG Prada
LG Nitro HD

SonyEricsson Xperia play
Sony Xperia S

HTC Sensation
HTC EVO 3D
HTC Rezound

High end Androids, which seem not to have a gyro included:

SonyEricsson Xperia neo
SonyEricsson Xperia arc

HTC Desire
HTC Desire S
HTC Incredible S
HTC Thunderbolt
HTC Evo

Motorola Droid Razr

 

[danisz]

There's an alternative way you can check if a model has a gyroscope included. Or any other sensor.

It's called Android Fragmentation Database. It's a great resource, it allows you to access detailed and reliable hardware and software info on android phones. (At least as accurate as the program is able to get true info from the phone). You can check out their site.
How it gets the info is people download an app called Android Analyzer, it scans their mobile phone and uploads the system report on the site. So what you find there are actual results of people's phones using the app. There's a search filter by model name. The down side is there is no filter for searching ONLY and ALL the phone models with gyroscopes.

I know this doesn't give you a complete list of android phones with gyros, but it certainly seems a reliable way to confirm the items in your list. And possibly find others.

 

[Vaako]

The Samsung Galaxy S Plus GT-i9001 does NOT have a Gyro sensor inside!

Very dissapointed!

 

[hhenne]

Updated the list with mobiles from Samsung, HTC, Huawei and Lumigon
Androids with gyro list is now:

Samsung /Google Nexus S - TESTED
Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Samsung i897 Captivate
Samsung Galaxy S
Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant
Samsung I9100 Galaxy S II - CONFIRMED
Samsung Infuse 4G
Samsung Galaxy W

LG optimus 2x
LG Optimus 3D P920 - CONFIRMED
LG Optimus Black P970
LG Optimus Dual
LG Prada
LG Nitro HD

SonyEricsson Xperia play
Sony Xperia S

HTC Sensation
HTC EVO 3D
HTC Rezound
HTC One X
HTC One S

Huawei Ascend D
Huawei U8860 Honor

Lumigon T2

High end Androids, which seem not to have a gyro included:

SonyEricsson Xperia neo
SonyEricsson Xperia arc

HTC Desire
HTC Desire S
HTC Incredible S
HTC Thunderbolt
HTC Evo

Motorola Droid Razr

Samsung Galaxy S Plus
Samsung Galaxy Y

 

[valorian]

Sorry to be OT, but when I saw the topic, I got hungry for some Gyros. Carry on.

Mmmm....Gyros!

 

[sleedeane]

Don't forget T-mobile's S2: (T-989)(Hercules).

 

[zuben el genub]

I have the Nexus S. How do you activate the Gyro? Where is it located? I have an app that can use it - app said that waving the phone around in a figure 8 would activate most. Figure 8 how? Phone parallel to the ground, upright or what?

 

[hhenne]

Don't forget T-mobile's S2: (T-989)(Hercules).

As far as I know, it is the same as Samsung Galaxy S2. To list every carriers rebrandings would flood the list, I think.

 

[hhenne]

I have the Nexus S. How do you activate the Gyro? Where is it located? I have an app that can use it - app said that waving the phone around in a figure 8 would activate most. Figure 8 how? Phone parallel to the ground, upright or what?

It may be app dependent. In my app, MaxiKeys, the gyro will always be activated, if the mobile has a gyro.

If your app, says you must wave the phone in a figure 8 to activate it, it shouldn't matter, if the figure 8 is upright or laying. The gyro meassures rotation velocity in all directions.