What is the improved version of an accelerometer that detects pitch, roll, and yaw?

An accelerometer is a device that measures the acceleration forces acting on it, which can provide information about movement along different axes. However, it typically only detects linear motion and orientation in reference to gravity, which can provide data about pitch (tilting forward or backward) and roll (tilting side to side).

A gyroscope, on the other hand, is an advanced version of an accelerometer that can accurately measure and maintain the orientation of objects in space. It detects rotational motion and can calculate yaw, which refers to the rotation about a vertical axis. This capability allows a gyroscope to provide a complete understanding of the three-dimensional orientation of an object or device by encompassing pitch, roll, and yaw.

This combination makes gyroscopes particularly useful in various applications, from smartphone sensors that enhance navigation and orientation capabilities to drone stabilization and virtual reality systems. The other options do not offer the same functionality regarding motion detection; for instance, trackpads and trackpoints are input devices, while digitizers refer to devices that convert analog signals into digital data. Therefore, gyroscopes provide the necessary improved functionality for detecting a full range of motion in three-dimensional space.