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iosiphonemagnetometer

iPhone 5 magnetometer data calibration


I captured raw magnetometer data on the iPhone 5 by accident, and I actually require the calibrated data. The problem is that I can't go and recapture the data I originally got. Does anyone know what the iPhone's hard bias (device bias) calibration values are and how I can apply them to my data to get a similar output to what the iPhone would have given me?

Alternatively what is the best approach to calibrate for the device bias? I don't care about soft bias in my measurements.

Thanks


Solution

  • The iPhone needs calibration data not to calibrate for the internal sensor (that is always accounted for, even in "raw" data, which actually isn't as raw as you might think). It is actually to calibrate for external factors that might disrupt or interfere with the Earth's natural magnetic field, like high voltage power lines, or steel beams overhead. The iPhone creates a 3D distortion map of the field (which is why the compass app asks you to make a figure eight) to offset these external influences.

    Finally, even if you could recreate the exact distortions, Apple provides no way to peek into their black-box filtering, let alone apply your own distortion map to their data. So no, you cannot recompute the calibrated data after the fact.