If they really need, they could plug in an external mic.
There’s a surprising amount of sensors in our phones that 30 years ago would have been expensive dedicated equipment. If a phone is enough for the tests, great.
Comment on The New York City Subway Is Using Google Pixels to Listen for Track Defects
Pyr_Pressure@lemmy.ca 3 days ago
So why Google pixels instead of dedicated recording hardware? I feel like there are better microphones out there than Google pixels.
helpImTrappedOnline@lemmy.world 3 days ago
HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club 3 days ago
A Google Pixel is dedicated recording hardware. It has a good enough microphone, great camera, and potentiometers to monitor vibration.
It also doesn’t have to be amazing, just good enough.
BastingChemina@slrpnk.net 3 days ago
I would imagine they use the microphone, accelerometer, some processing power and internet connectivity (WiFi or mobile).
Trying to set up a dedicated hardware with ask that would cost way more than just buying a bunch of pixel phone.
Same for the software, on a smartphone you can just create an app that will record and process all the information vs creating a custom firmware on a custom hardware.
Zonetrooper@lemmy.world 3 days ago
This. I think people are way, way underestimating the integration costs for all of this. It’s not as simple as “buy the pieces, plug them into each other, instant sensor system!”
Especially for riding around in a rough environment, a Pixel is sensors, communication, storage, power, all wrapped up in a reasonably robust case and featuring premade software to run the whole mess when you purchase it.
atrielienz@lemmy.world 3 days ago
It’s not just about the mics. The location data, microphone data, and accelerometer/vibration data are also important and the phones are likely cheaper than other specialized equipment, which may have factored into it. Especially if they bought them a generation or so behind.
Dave@lemmy.nz 3 days ago
How well does location tracking work underground?