Jalopnik: accelerometer

K.A.T. Matrix 3-Axis Accelerometer Lets You Be A Statistical Hoon

Travis Hudson — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:20:00 EDT

Who needs to build a G-force meter when you can simply buy one and let the statistical hoonage begin. The K.A.T. Matrix 3-Axis Accelerometer can measure acceleration, cornering, horsepower, g-forces, quarter-mile and 0-60 times — all using three-axis measurements. It mounts to the windshield and runs off AA batteries, and the LCD screen even includes backlighting so when the sun goes down the fun doesn't have to stop.

In all reality, this device could be very useful for benchmarking and performance-testing a vehicle, particularly given that the K.A.T. has a error compensation feature integrated. A bargain at $60. [Geeks.com]

DIY G-Force Meter: Let The Pissing Contest Begin

Travis Hudson — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:00:00 EDT

Perfect for hoons, Youtubers and road racers with looking for bragging rights is this do-it-yourself G-force meter. The little box can measure acceleration and tilt on one axis. Attach it to your windshield and see what kind of acceleration and braking forces you can get with your car or turn it sideways and see how good your car is in a corner. We would hope whatever you drive would be able to do a little better than this techno-fiend of a creator in his Honda Civic. Follow the link to see the build process and spend about nine seconds deciding its easier to just buy one off the shelf. [PyroElectro via Gizmodo]

Bowling for Accelerometers

Mike Bumbeck — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 16:00:00 EDT

We've often wondered how our miniature camera switches between landscape and portrait display in review mode. How does it know? Accelerometers. The technology that makes these gizmos work is evidently getting cheaper, and will soon show up in laptops and iPhones the same way it already has in Wii controllers. That recalcitrant laptop, for instance, could sense that it was flying through the air like a frisbee and clamp down the hard drive before impact. While making cute characters toss Wii gutter balls down a TV bowling alley is a fine application of accelerometer technology, we think tilt-compensating suspension in an affordable car would be more entertaining. – Mike Bumbeck

Five Cool Things You Can Do With an Accelerometer [edn.com]