The Best Sparkfun Tof Range Finder Sensor Vl6180

This is the SparkFun “Time-of-Flight” Range Finder, a breakout for the VL6180 distance sensor. Unlike most distance sensors that rely reflected light intensity or reflected angles to determine range, the VL6180 uses a precise clock to measure the time it takes light to bounce back from a surface. This affords the ToF Range Finder and VL6180 a great benefit over other methods because it can be much more accurate and more immune to noise. Does this technology sound familiar? Well it should, it’s the same means cellphones use to detect when the caller is holding their phone to their ear.

This breakout for the VL6180 is as simple as it gets. Only the required passives are populated to give you the smallest, most cost effective way to use multiple sensors in a project with an I2C interface. The VL6180 is actually a 3-in-1 package that combines an IR emitter, a range sensor, and an ambient light sensor together for you to easily use. We’ve broken out each pin that is required to use the VL6180, including: IO1, IO0, SCL, SDA, 2.8V, and GND. Please be sure to note, however, the ToF Range Finder Breakout only accepts 2.8V input and logic. You must provide a 2.8V voltage source and level shifting to 3.3V and 5V devices.

Note: Though the datasheet states the VL6180 measures an absolute range of up to 10cm, we have successfully tested it up to 25cm. The more you know.

Description:

The VL53L0X from ST Microelectronics is a time-of-flight ranging system integrated into a compact module. This board is a carrier for the VL53L0X, so we recommend careful reading of the VL53L0X datasheet (1MB pdf) before using this product.

Ranging measurements are available through the sensor’s I²C (TWI) interface, which is also used to configure sensor settings, and the sensor provides two additional pins: a shutdown input and an interrupt output.

PIN Description:

VDD  Regulated 2.8 V output. Almost 150 mA is available to power external components. (If you want to bypass the internal regulator, you can instead use this pin as a 2.8 V input with VIN disconnected.)

VIN  This is the main 2.6 V to 5.5 V power supply connection. The SCL and SDA level shifters pull the I2C lines high to this level.

GND  The ground (0 V) connection for your power supply. Your I2C control source must also share a common ground with this board.

SDA    Level-shifted I²C data line: HIGH is VIN, LOW is 0 V

SCL      Level-shifted I²C clock line: HIGH is VIN, LOW is 0 V

XSHUT    This pin is an active-low shutdown input; the board pulls it up to VDD to enable the sensor by default. Driving this pin low puts the sensor into hardware standby. This input is not level-shifted. 

 Package includes : 

 2x L53L0X Time-of-Flight Distance Sensor

Description:
Range: 0.1-12m
Accuracy: ±5cm@（0.1-6m），±1%@（6m-12m）
Resolution: 5mm
Frequency: 1-1000Hz, standard is 100Hz
Light Sensitivity: 70klux
Operation temperature: -20℃~60℃
Waterproof: IP65
Light and Wave length: LED 850nm
Receiving Anger: 3.6 degree
Supply Voltage: 5V±0.5V
Average current: 110mA
Average Power: 550mW
Peak Current: 300mA
Communication level: UART,I2C,I/O
Cable length: 30cm

Package Includes:
1 X TFmini Plus

The VL53L1X is a third-generation FlightSense technology time-of-flight sensor that extends the TOF ranging length to 4 meters and the ranging frequency to 50 Hz. The VL53L1X uses ST’s latest ToF technology, which integrates physical infrared filters and optical components to provide distance measurement and immunity to interference regardless of target color and reflectivity. The FlightSense sensor directly measures the distance between the object and the sensor based on the photon round-trip flight time. The measurement accuracy is not affected by the surface characteristics of the measured object, making the low-power high-precision ranging and proximity detection function suitable for a wider range of applications.
Wiki: http://www.cqrobot.wiki/index.php/VL53L1X_Distance_Sensor

APPLICATIONS

– Mobile Robot (walking by wall, cliff detection, collision avoidance)
– UAV (UAV) hover/landing aids)
– Detection Mode (automatic sleep/wake-up function on PC, notebook, and LOT devices)
– Camera (low-light AF assist, video focus tracking)
– Architecture and Lighting (1D gesture recognition, incoming detection)
– Smart Home (automatic sanitary ware for toilet, faucet or hand sanitizer)
– Inventory Management (package counting for smart shelf systems)

SPECIFICATIONS

– Working Voltage: 3.3V/5V
– Product Size: 20 mm * 24 mm
– Through Hole Size: 2.0 mm
– Range Measurement: 40 mm to 4000 mm
– Ranging Accuracy: Plus/Minus 5%
– Ranging Time (min): 20 ms (Short Distance Mode), 33 ms (Medium Distance / Long – Distance Mode)
– Ranging Angle: 27 Degree
– Laser wavelength: 940 nm
– Working Temperature: -20 Degree Celsius to 80 Degree Celsius

DISTRIBUTION LIST

1 * Long Distance Ranging Sensor (VL53L1X)
1 * PH2.0 6-Pin Cable (20 cm)

The IR Infrared Obstacle Avoidance Sensor Module detection range can be through the potentiometer to adjust and have small interference, easy to assemble, easy to use. It can be widely used in robot obstacle avoidance, obstacle avoidance car, line count, and black and white line tracking and so on
On-line tutorial: http://osoyoo.com/2017/07/arduino-lesson-obstacle-avoidance-sensor/

Specification
The output port OUT sensor module can be directly connected to the microcontroller IO port , you can directly drive a 5V relay ;
the module detects the distance 2 ~ 30cm, detection angle 35 °, the distance can detect potential is adjusted
Can be used for 3-5V DC power supply modules
When the power is turned on, the red power indicator light
Using the comparator LM393
Interface :
1. VCC: External 3.3V-5V voltage (can be directly connected to 5v MCU and 3.3v MCU)
2. GND: GND External
3. OUT: Small board digital output interfaces (0 and 1)
Connection : VCC-VCC; GND-GND; OUT-IO
With the screw holes of 3mm , easy fixed installation
Board Size : 3.1CM * 1.5CM / 1.22 * 0.59″

Package includes:
10 x Infrared Obstacle Avoidance Module

Excelity HC-SR04 Ultrasonic Moudle is to measure the distance of object by 40KHz ultrasonic sound wave. This moulde provides 2cm-400cm non-contact measurement function, the ranging accuracy can reach to 3mm. It is great for the project that need distance measurement, such as Distometer,intelligent robot navigation system,etc.

Module main technical parameters:
-Working Voltage : 5V(DC)
-Static current: Less than 2mA
-Output signal: Electric frequency signal, high level 5V, low level 0V
-Sensor angle: Not more than 15 degrees
-Detection distance: 2cm-450cm.
-High precision: Up to 0.3cm
-Input trigger signal: 10us TTL impulse
-Echo signal : output TTL PWL signal

Pin definition:
-VCC: connect to 5V DC
-Trig(T): control pin, connect to a standard I/O port
-Echo(R):receiving end, connect to a standard I/O port
-GND: Connect to Ground

Notes:
-1. The module should be inserted in the circuit before been powered to avoid producing high level of misoperation; if producted, power it again.
-2. Before connect to VCC terminal, the GND terminal should be connected the module first,otherwise,it will affect the normal work of the module.

Module Working Principle:
-1. Pull the Trig pin to high level for more than 10us impulse, the module start ranging.
-2. The module automatically sends eight 40KHz square wave to detect whether a signal is returned.
-3. Finished ranging, If you find an object in front, Echo pin will be high level, and based on the different distance, it will take the different duration of high level.
-4. Calculated the distance, the distance = (high level time * sound velocity (340M/S) / 2.

Package included:
-3pcs HC-SR04 Moulde
-3pcs Mounting Bracket

The VL6180X (sometimes called the VL6180) is a Time of Flight distance sensor like no other you’ve used! The sensor contains a very tiny laser source, and a matching sensor. The VL6180X can detect the “time of flight”, or how long the laser light has taken to bounce back to the sensor. Since it uses a very narrow light source, it is good for determining distance of only the surface directly in front of it.

Unlike sonars that bounce ultrasonic waves, the ‘cone’ of sensing is very narrow. Unlike IR distance sensors that try to measure the amount of light bounced, the VL6180X is much more precise and doesn’t have linearity problems or ‘double imaging’ where you can’t tell if an object is very far or very close.

This is the ‘little sister’ of the Adafruit VL53L0X ToF sensor, and can handle about 5mm to 200mm of range distance. It also includes a lux sensor. If you need a larger range, check out the VL53L0X which can measure 50 – 1200 mm.

The sensor is small and easy to use in any robotics or interactive project. Since it needs 2.8V power and logic we put the little fellow on a breakout board with a regulator and level shifting. You can use it with any 3-5V power or logic microcontroller with no worries. Each order comes with a small piece of header. Solder the header onto your breakout board with your iron and some solder and wire it up for instant distance-sensing-success!

Communicating to the sensor is done over I2C with some simple commands. Most of the work is handled inside the sensor itself, so its very easy to port our Arduino library to another microcontroller.

There are 4 pins out of the module: VCC , Trig, Echo, GND. So it’s a very easy interface for controller to use it ranging. 
The all process is: pull the Trig pin to high level for more than 10us impulse, the module start ranging; 
Finish ranging, If you find an object in front, Echo pin will be high level, and based on the different distance, it will take the different duration of high level. 
So we can calculated the distance easily: Distance = ((Duration of high level)*(Sonic :340m/s))/2

This is the SparkFun “Time-of-Flight” Range Finder, a sensor board for the VL6180 distance sensor. Unlike most distance sensors that rely on reflected light intensity or reflected angles to determine range, the VL6180 uses a precise clock to measure the time it takes light to bounce back from a surface. This affords the ToF Range Finder and VL6180 a great benefit over other methods because it can be much more accurate and more immune to noise. Does this technology sound familiar? Well it should, it’s the same means cellphones use to detect when the caller is holding their phone to their ear.

The VL6180 is actually a 3-in-1 package that combines an IR emitter, a range sensor, and an ambient light sensor together for you to easily use and communicate with via an I2C interface. The ToF Range Finder is very similar to its breakout cousin with a few important differences. What sets this board apart is this sensor is equipped with an on-board 2.8V regulator, which means if you were to plug in a voltage higher than 2.8V it will be shifted down without worry of damaging your board! Another thing to note is the form factor of the sensor itself. Many small robotics platforms have integrated hole patterns for the long time favorite Sharp IR sensor line. This allows the VL6180 Sensor to be a near drop-in replacement for most Sharp sensors.

Note: Though the datasheet states the VL6180 measures an absolute range of up to 10cm, we have successfully tested it up to 25cm. The more you know.