What is a gyroscope sensor?

A gyroscope sensor is a sensor on a mobile phone that tracks rotation or twist. The gyroscope is one of several sensors on a mobile phone that includes an accelerometer, a barometer and a compass.

Accelerometers detect orientation in mobile phones. Both the accelerometer and the gyroscope measure rates of change. The accelerometer measures the linear acceleration of movement, while the gyroscope measures the angular rotational velocity. The digital compass relays information to the phone about the Earth's magnetic field. This is done with the aid of a sensor called a magnetometer. The barometer delivers altitude data to the phone's GPS system.