The accelerometer, on the other hand, detects gravitational force. When placed horizontally, it outputs zero, but when tilted it is subject to gravity, and outputs the corresponding signals. Placing two of these sensors at right angles to each other produces a sensor that can show how many degrees an object has moved from the horizontal plane in absolute terms. But if this tilt sensor is moved quickly, it becomes impossible to differentiate between signals caused by inertia and by gravitational force. In other words, the tilt sensor is incapable of handling fast movements.

Meanwhile, the magnetic sensor works just like a compass. But while it is capable of indicating direction in terms of east, west, north and south in absolute terms, the magnetic sensor is also incapable of following very fast movements. In other words, the ceramic gyro and the accelerometer and the magnetic sensors have complementary strengths and weaknesses. The ceramic gyro is good at measuring quick movements, but is not good for slow movement. Meanwhile, the accelerometer and the magnetic sensors are not good for fast movements, but are good at measuring slow movements. So ceramic gyros are arrayed to measure movement in each of the three directions - up-down, left-right, and front-back - and each of these gyros is then paired with one of the other sensors: magnetic in the up-down direction, and accelerometer in the left-right and front-back directions. In combination, these sensors can accurately measure motion in each of the three dimensions. During fast movements, the values output by the accelerometer and the magnetic sensors are supplemented by the gyros, while during slow movements, the values output by the gyros are supplemented by the accelerometer and the magnetic sensors.