androidsensorsmotion

How to detect movement of an android device?


I need suggestion about how to detect the amount of movement of an android device. Suppose I have put the phone on a table or bed and then if somebody taps the table or sits or laydown on the bed then I want to detect the movement of the android device.

Actually I know that android has motion sensors APIs but I don't know which sensor to use and what sensor type is best for this type of movement detection.

I would be glad if someone can share some basic demo code.


Solution

  • Definitely work with the accelerometer:

    // Start with some variables
    private SensorManager sensorMan;
    private Sensor accelerometer;
    
    private float[] mGravity;
    private float mAccel;
    private float mAccelCurrent;
    private float mAccelLast;
    
    // In onCreate method
    sensorMan = (SensorManager)getSystemService(SENSOR_SERVICE);
    accelerometer = sensorMan.getDefaultSensor(Sensor.TYPE_ACCELEROMETER);
    mAccel = 0.00f;
    mAccelCurrent = SensorManager.GRAVITY_EARTH;
    mAccelLast = SensorManager.GRAVITY_EARTH;
    
    // And these:
    
    @Override
    public void onResume() {
        super.onResume();
        sensorMan.registerListener(this, accelerometer,
            SensorManager.SENSOR_DELAY_UI);
    }
    
    @Override
    protected void onPause() {
        super.onPause();
        sensorMan.unregisterListener(this);
    }
    
    @Override
    public void onSensorChanged(SensorEvent event) {
        if (event.sensor.getType() == Sensor.TYPE_ACCELEROMETER){
            mGravity = event.values.clone();
            // Shake detection
            float x = mGravity[0];
            float y = mGravity[1];
            float z = mGravity[2];
            mAccelLast = mAccelCurrent;
            mAccelCurrent = FloatMath.sqrt(x*x + y*y + z*z);
            float delta = mAccelCurrent - mAccelLast;
            mAccel = mAccel * 0.9f + delta;
                // Make this higher or lower according to how much
                // motion you want to detect
            if(mAccel > 3){ 
            // do something
            }
        }
    
    }
    
    @Override
    public void onAccuracyChanged(Sensor sensor, int accuracy) {
        // required method
    }