A developer and Frisbee fan turned AirPods into a flying-disc stat tracker, using motion sensors to measure throws in a clever demonstration of what Apple’s earbuds can do beyond playing audio.
AirPods 4Sharhan demonstrated Kinapod Disc on Reddit on July 20. The setup requires users to make a small hole in the center of a flying disc and insert one AirPod stem-first.
Once it’s mounted, the AirPod sends motion data to an iPhone while Kinapod Disc detects each throw and records spin rate, total revolutions, estimated release speed, and airborne time.
It’s a fun albeit expensive solution to the problem of throwing a plastic disc without enough statistics. It’s also a clever use of motion sensors Apple builds into AirPods.