Adafruit
Adafruit VL53L0X Time of Flight Distance Sensor - ~30 to 1000mm
The Adafruit VL53L0X is a Time-of-Flight (ToF) distance sensor from ST that uses an invisible laser to measure distances from approximately 50 mm to 1200 mm....
The Adafruit VL53L0X is a Time-of-Flight (ToF) distance sensor from ST that uses an invisible laser to measure distances from approximately 50 mm to 1200 mm. By timing how long the laser light takes to bounce back, it delivers precise distance readings without the linearity issues or double-imaging problems found in IR reflectance sensors.
The narrow laser beam measures only the surface directly in front of the sensor, making it far more focused than ultrasonic sensors. The breakout includes a 2.8V regulator and level shifting, so it works with any 3–5V microcontroller over I2C.
Key Features
- Time-of-Flight Measurement – Invisible laser ranging for precise, reliable distance data
- ~50 to 1200 mm Range – Suitable for medium-range distance sensing
- Narrow Sensing Cone – Focused laser beam measures only the surface directly ahead
- I2C Interface – Based on ST's VL53L0X API with Adafruit Arduino wrapper library
- 3–5V Compatible – On-board 2.8V regulator and level shifting
- Compact Breakout – Small PCB suitable for robotics and interactive projects
Compared To Other ToF Sensors
- vs VL6180X – The VL6180X measures 5–200 mm (closer range) and includes a light sensor; the VL53L0X covers 50–1200 mm for longer distances
Ideal For
- Robotics obstacle detection and navigation
- Gesture and proximity sensing
- Level and fill measurement
- Interactive installations and displays
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit VL53L0X ToF Distance Sensor Breakout (assembled and tested)
- 1× Header strip (requires soldering)
Resources
- Adafruit VL53L0X Tutorial – Code, schematics, wiring diagrams, and more
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- API
- An API is a software interface that lets a program control hardware or features provided by the operating system. In this product, API support matters if you want your software to adjust display settings such as brightness or contrast automatically.
- breakout
- A breakout is a small circuit board that makes a tiny or hard-to-solder component easier to connect to with standard pins. It matters because this OLED module can be wired into a microcontroller project without needing to solder directly to the display’s fine contacts.
- I2C
- I2C is a two-wire communication bus used by many sensors and small modules. It matters because several I2C devices can share the same two wires, but each device needs a compatible address and your controller must support I2C.
- microcontroller
- A microcontroller is a small computer on a chip that runs your program and controls connected inputs and outputs. For this product, it is the part that reads buttons and sensors, drives the display and speaker, and communicates over Bluetooth.
- PCB
- A printed circuit board is a rigid board with copper tracks that connect electronic parts without loose wires. For this kit, the PCBs also form the airplane shape, so they are both the circuit base and part of the finished model.
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Brands
Sensors & Input
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
