Smartphone wind meter

[Papa Zero Three]

I did a search and didn't find anything on this so as far as I know, this hasn't been discussed before. Came across a piece of equipment that turns your smartphone into a wind meter. It started off as a kickstarter project and has been funded. I haven't used this device but I find that if this can be accomplished with a small investment and a phone that most have already, it's only a matter of time before the Kestrel Horus/AE has some serious competition.

Granted, as far as I can tell, this just tells you windspeed at the moment. But imagine if the existing ballistic apps software could be modified to use the real time wind data from this device, you would have a pretty good start on getting rid of a kestrel. It's not a perfect replacement as is but I can see the potential for this or something that spins off from this to potentially be a replacement in the future.

A link to the device can be found here: Vaavud

A video explanation of it can be seen here: A wireless wind meter containing no electronics by Vaavud ? Kickstarter

 

[Gentleman4561]

Very interesting. Thanks!

 

[scubadds]

Interesting, so simple

 

[mikeltee]

It would be great for the range, but in the field, Kestrels are proven to be tough enough. Although I've beat the hell out of all my iPhones and they seem to hold up fine with the occasional $40 display replacment.

 

[Papa Zero Three]

It would be great for the range, but in the field, Kestrels are proven to be tough enough. Although I've beat the hell out of all my iPhones and they seem to hold up fine with the occasional $40 display replacment.

Did you miss the part where they mentioned the device is durable? There really isn't anything to break on the thing other than totally destroying/crushing it.

 

[bobtodrick]

I'll wait to see some feedback.
I'd fear it would be like the camera in your i-Phone...a lot of people say the photos are just as good as from a camera. They obviously don't know what a good photo looks like, especially once it's blown up past 5x7".
My Kestrel factors in a lot of info other than wind to give me an idea of what my round is going to do...this seems to be just wind meter.

 

[Spot-on]

I think the magnetospeed folks may have some interesting competition, or could replace their wired display unit with an iPhone app.

 

[Papa Zero Three]

My Kestrel factors in a lot of info other than wind to give me an idea of what my round is going to do...this seems to be just wind meter.

Yes, thank you Cpt. Obvious. I am well aware it just tells wind, I stated as much in my initial post. This is a piece of technology that has THE POTENTIAL to be more than it currently is if developed further. AS IS, it is not a replacement. I thought I was pretty clear about that in my post but apparently I was mistaken. Hopefully now I have removed any confusion about this piece of equipment.

 

[Delta4-3]

P03' I see where you're coming from and I dig it. I think it's a stellar idea.

 

[bobtodrick]

Yes, thank you Cpt. Obvious. I am well aware it just tells wind, I stated as much in my initial post. This is a piece of technology that has THE POTENTIAL to be more than it currently is if developed further. AS IS, it is not a replacement. I thought I was pretty clear about that in my post but apparently I was mistaken. Hopefully now I have removed any confusion about this piece of equipment.

Just making an observation Papa...in which I didn't resort to being a jakwad.
Lighten up.

 

[BapZander]

The Samsung galaxy S4 has built in sensors for pressure, temperature and humidity. Add one of these wind meters and you won't need a kestrel.

 

[Spot-on]

Does anyone make a picatinny mount for the Samsung S4?

The Samsung galaxy S4 has built in sensors for pressure, temperature and humidity. Add one of these wind meters and you won't need a kestrel.

 

[Ultraman550]

Here's another wind meter that "looks" pretty cool. Don't know how well it will work though.

Pre-Order Shaka Wind Meter ? Shaka

 

[ArmaHeavy]

We need a topic titled "More cool shit that was found on fundraising websites." Great find.

I wish more earth based tone were available, but krylon is cheap. Might end up making a mini barber pole design if I get it.

 

[leftheart]

So we all have said it looks cool, but no one has tried it? I have a Galaxy S4 and have experimented with the barometric sensor. Its spot on with other measurements closeby, and it even goes up if you exhale on it and give it a min or so and it goes back down. So the combo of that plus the wind meter and some good ole shooting will put it to the test. I think one -> Amazon.com : WeatherFlow Wind Meter : Weather Flow Wind Meter : Patio, Lawn & Garden <--- has the least potential of damage in the field.
With all of my solutions, calc, ballistics on Apps adding this completes the scenario -- we will see