Physics Sensor
Description
The Physics Sensor is one of the many Sensor blocks in Stormworks. It was added in patch v1.6.14[1] aptly titled The Physics Sensor Update on February 17th 2023 and was later updated in patch v1.8.4-5[2] in the Critical Fix Update on July 21st 2023 adding the Tilt and Compass outputs.
The Physics Sensor combined's multiple sensors like the GPS Sensor, Tilt Sensor, Compass Sensor, Angular & Linear Velocity Sensor, and Altimeter.
As a result, this one block reads the following information:
- GPS Location
- Altitude
- Euler Rotation
- Directional Velocity
- Linear Magnitude
- Angular Velocity
- Compass Heading (In -0.5 to 0.5)
- Tilt Levels
It outputs this information via Composite (channel table found below) and requires electricity for the GPS to function.
| Channel Number | Data Output | Notes If applicable | Unit Output if applicable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | X Position | GPS X position | Metres |
| 2 | Y Position | Vertical Position/Altitude | Metres |
| 3 | Z Position | GPS Y Position | Metres |
| 4 | Euler Rotation X | Pitch relative to the world | |
| 5 | Euler Rotation Y | Yaw relative to the world | |
| 6 | Euler Rotation Z | Roll relative to the world | |
| 7 | Linear Velocity X | Forward Speed | Metres/second (m/s) |
| 8 | Linear Velocity Y | Vertical speed | Metres/second (m/s) |
| 9 | Linear Velocity Z | Sideways Speed | Metres/second (m/s) |
| 10 | Angular Velocity X | Speed of Pitch rotation | Radians/second (Rad/s) |
| 11 | Angular Velocity Y | Speed of Yaw rotation | Radians/second (Rad/s) |
| 12 | Angular Velocity Z | Speed of Roll rotation | Radians/second (Rad/s) |
| 13 | Absolute Linear Velocity | Linear speed magnitude | Metres/second (m/s) |
| 14 | Absolute Angular Velocity | Angular velocity magnitude | Radians/second (Rad/s) |
| 15 | Local Z Tilt | Vehicle tilt on Z axis | Turns |
| 16 | Local X Tilt | Vehicle tilt on X axis | Turns |
| 17 | Compass Heading | Outputs from -0.5 to 0.5 | Turns |
Whilst the GPS Sensor outputs in X & Y; the Physics Sensor provides the "Y" Output in the "Z" output, opting instead to use the Y Output for Altitude.
Euler Rotation is not relative to the craft, instead it is relative to the world.
The Absolute Linear Velocity output is the same as a Linear Speed Sensor.
The Absolute Angular Velocity output is the same as an Angular Speed Sensor.
The Tilt outputs are relative to the horizon, utilising Turns[3] as its output.