True to its name, the free-to-use Wireless IMU utility app converts the user’s device into a portable wireless inertial measurement unit (IMU) using its built-in sensors. With it, you can turn your device into a gyroscope, magnetometer, or accelerometer. It functions the way typical IMUs do — by measuring and gathering data about a body’s movement.

Turns devices into accelerometers and more

Wireless IMU, unfortunately, cannot work on its own. Once installed, your device has to be connected to a computer through a shared Wi-Fi network or else the app will prompt you to obtain the necessary connections first. Such a requirement is essential as this app feeds data gathered through the sensors to the computer, so it can be processed into a viewable CSV file. 

The app supports gyroscope, accelerometer, and magnetometer sensors, and if your device doesn’t have one or two of those, then it will only scan and measure findings from the existing ones. It also runs in the background, although some users have reported that it stops or crashes after a few minutes.

Effective despite the bugs and crashes

Overall, Wireless IMU works as intended — it utilizes a device’s built-in sensors to gather information about the movement of a body, turning said device into a makeshift accelerometer, magnetometer, or gyroscope. It has to be connected to a computer through a shared Wi-Fi network for the data to be transmitted into a CSV file, however. Plus, it’s rather prone to stopping or crashing when left running in the background.