Local electronic environmental detection device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and system for gathering data along points of travel using common portable electronic devices that are typically used for other functions. More specifically, the data gathered by these portable electronic devices may be accessed, processed, validated, and used in conjunction with, or alone, to produce, augment, and/or validate other data sets across wide ranges of science and technology.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining a turbulent condition in an aircraft with a portable device having a gyroscope, seismometer, and an accelerometer, the method comprising:
 receiving an output from each of the gyroscope, seismometer, and an accelerometer while the portable device is situated within an aircraft;   comparing, by a processor, the received outputs to corresponding turbulence threshold values for the received outputs;   providing, by the processor, an indication on the portable device or the aircraft, of a turbulent condition when the comparing indicates at least one of the received outputs exceeds the corresponding turbulence threshold value; and   communicating the at least one of the received outputs from the portable device or the aircraft to a ground-based computer.