4 ms·

Is there a limit on speed? Can I attach a balloon, extremely long string, and parachute?

pavel_lishin 3y ago
Won't work: > "Cheating" by throwing a phone from a tall building typically returns an error message.[3] The app's calculations keep track of how long the phone takes to rise and fall, and an error message is displayed if the distance fallen exceeds the length of the ascent.[2]
- F3nd0 3y ago
  That’s where the balloon comes in!
  - pavel_lishin 3y ago
    True, but the balloon ascent won't look like a "throw" to the onboard sensors.
    - jamal-kumar 3y ago
      just use a comically oversized balloon
jyunwai 3y ago
You can construct a catapult and try to catch the phone with a blanket, as done by the previous record-holders in Brazil: https://youtube.com/watch?v=27oI0omSXdY&t=80 https://youtube.com/watch?v=27oI0omSXdY&t=80
kevindamm 3y ago
There are federal regulations that prohibit operating a GPS at faster than xx mph speeds, basically to prohibit guided missiles, and this would kick in first (may even trigger an error state in the accelerometer or OS, I'm pretty sure). The app does compare distances neg-Y and pos-Y but I don't know if it checks the rate of ascent to be within some tolerance of throwing speed. You may have found the cheat code, if you can address the speed limit.
- terminous 3y ago
  > There are federal regulations that prohibit operating a GPS at faster than xx mph speeds, basically to prohibit guided missiles, and this would kick in first (may even trigger an error state in the accelerometer or OS, I'm pretty sure). This app doesn't use GPS, it uses accelerometer. It is 100% legal in the US to operate a GPS while over CoCom/MTCR limits: above 1,000 knots (510 m/s) and/or at an altitude higher than 18,000 m (59,000 ft). The regulation is on the GPS manufacturer, who is required to output null/error/no GPS data if it detects it is above these limits (edit: unless they are licensed, which you can apply for if you're a defense contractor or in aerospace). It isn't like if a GPS device is traveling too high or fast, it is automatically a crime and bricks itself or alerts the authorities.
  - plusplusungood 3y ago
    The regulation has changed and no longer limits use at altitude. Source: have launched high altitude balloons to 100000' and https://space.stackexchange.com/a/14695 https://space.stackexchange.com/a/14695. You still have to be careful to buy a GPS unit that isn't limited in altitude, though.
- alexey-salmin 3y ago
  > There are federal regulations that prohibit operating a GPS at faster than xx mph speeds Do you have a source? I remember catching "800km/h" by a normal trekking Garmin device through the window of a passenger plane. Quick googling revealed many such stories.
  - zokier 3y ago
    The CoCom limit that OP might refer to was 510 m/s, or 1836 km/h

Won't work: > "Cheating" by throwing a phone from a tall building typically returns an error message.[3] The app's calculations keep track of how long the phone takes to rise and fall, and an error message is displayed if the distance fallen exceeds the length of the ascent.[2]

F3nd0 3y ago
That’s where the balloon comes in!
- pavel_lishin 3y ago
  True, but the balloon ascent won't look like a "throw" to the onboard sensors.
  - jamal-kumar 3y ago
    just use a comically oversized balloon

jyunwai 3y ago

You can construct a catapult and try to catch the phone with a blanket, as done by the previous record-holders in Brazil: https://youtube.com/watch?v=27oI0omSXdY&t=80 https://youtube.com/watch?v=27oI0omSXdY&t=80

kevindamm 3y ago

There are federal regulations that prohibit operating a GPS at faster than xx mph speeds, basically to prohibit guided missiles, and this would kick in first (may even trigger an error state in the accelerometer or OS, I'm pretty sure). The app does compare distances neg-Y and pos-Y but I don't know if it checks the rate of ascent to be within some tolerance of throwing speed. You may have found the cheat code, if you can address the speed limit.

terminous 3y ago
> There are federal regulations that prohibit operating a GPS at faster than xx mph speeds, basically to prohibit guided missiles, and this would kick in first (may even trigger an error state in the accelerometer or OS, I'm pretty sure). This app doesn't use GPS, it uses accelerometer. It is 100% legal in the US to operate a GPS while over CoCom/MTCR limits: above 1,000 knots (510 m/s) and/or at an altitude higher than 18,000 m (59,000 ft). The regulation is on the GPS manufacturer, who is required to output null/error/no GPS data if it detects it is above these limits (edit: unless they are licensed, which you can apply for if you're a defense contractor or in aerospace). It isn't like if a GPS device is traveling too high or fast, it is automatically a crime and bricks itself or alerts the authorities.
- plusplusungood 3y ago
  The regulation has changed and no longer limits use at altitude. Source: have launched high altitude balloons to 100000' and https://space.stackexchange.com/a/14695 https://space.stackexchange.com/a/14695. You still have to be careful to buy a GPS unit that isn't limited in altitude, though.
alexey-salmin 3y ago
> There are federal regulations that prohibit operating a GPS at faster than xx mph speeds Do you have a source? I remember catching "800km/h" by a normal trekking Garmin device through the window of a passenger plane. Quick googling revealed many such stories.
- zokier 3y ago
  The CoCom limit that OP might refer to was 510 m/s, or 1836 km/h