Adafruit
Adafruit VL53L4CX Time of Flight Distance Sensor - ~1 to 6000mm
The Adafruit VL53L4CX is the longest-range Time-of-Flight (ToF) distance sensor in ST's VL5 series, measuring from approximately 1 mm up to 6000 mm (6 metres...
Get notified when back in stock
The Adafruit VL53L4CX is the longest-range Time-of-Flight (ToF) distance sensor in ST's VL5 series, measuring from approximately 1 mm up to 6000 mm (6 metres). It uses an invisible laser to precisely time how long light takes to bounce back, delivering accurate distance readings without the linearity issues of IR reflectance sensors.
A standout feature is multi-object detection — the VL53L4CX can identify when more than one object is in the sensing path and report both distances. The breakout includes a 2.8V regulator, level shifting, and two STEMMA QT / Qwiic connectors for solderless I2C wiring.
Key Features
- 6-Metre Range – Measures ~1 to 6000 mm, the longest range in the VL5 series
- Multi-Object Detection – Can identify two objects at different distances in the sensing path
- Narrow Sensing Cone – Focused invisible laser measures only the surface directly ahead
- I2C Interface – Based on ST's VL53L4CX API
- STEMMA QT / Qwiic Connectors – Two connectors for solderless plug-and-play I2C
- 3–5V Compatible – On-board 2.8V regulator and level shifting
Compared To Other ToF Sensors
- vs VL53L4CD – The VL53L4CD covers ~1–1300 mm for shorter range applications
- vs VL53L1X – The VL53L1X covers ~30–4000 mm; the VL53L4CX extends to 6000 mm and adds multi-object detection
- vs VL53L0X – The VL53L0X covers ~50–1200 mm with a simpler driver
Ideal For
- Long-range robotics obstacle detection and navigation
- Room occupancy and people counting with multi-object support
- Drone altitude hold and collision avoidance
- Industrial distance measurement
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit VL53L4CX ToF Distance Sensor Breakout (assembled and tested)
Resources
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- API
- An API (application programming interface) is a defined set of commands or functions that lets one piece of software interact with another, such as a library, operating system, hardware driver or online service. When something offers API support, it means you can control or query it from your own code rather than only through its built-in menus or buttons.
- breakout
- A breakout board carries a small or fine-pitched component and brings its connections out to standard, breadboard- and header-friendly pins. Describing a part as a breakout means it can be wired into a project without soldering directly to the component's tiny contacts.
- ESP32
- ESP32 is a family of low-cost microcontroller chips and modules from Espressif with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth. They support programmable firmware and over-the-air updates, and are commonly programmed with toolchains such as the Arduino core and ESP-IDF.
- Flash memory
- Flash memory is non-volatile memory that retains stored data even when power is removed, and can be erased and rewritten in blocks. It lets data such as firmware, settings or saved records persist across power cycles.
- 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.
- Qwiic
- Qwiic is a plug-in connector system for I2C devices that uses small 4-pin cables, so you can connect compatible sensors without soldering. It matters because your controller or adapter also needs Qwiic, or you will need a cable or breakout to wire it up.
- SAMD21
- The SAMD21 is a Microchip (formerly Atmel) 32-bit Arm Cortex-M0+ microcontroller used in many Arduino-compatible boards. The exact chip affects which libraries, clock speeds and peripheral features are available, so software needs to support the SAMD21 specifically.
- SAMD51
- A family of 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4 microcontroller chips from Microchip, often used to run the main program on a development board. When a board is built around a SAMD51 it generally offers more speed and memory than basic 8-bit microcontrollers, which helps with demanding tasks such as graphics, audio or fast data handling.
- STEMMA
- A plug-and-cable connection system used on some maker electronics boards to make wiring simpler. If a product uses STEMMA, you need the matching cable or connector type to plug it in without soldering.
- STEMMA QT
- A small plug-in connector system for I2C boards that lets you connect compatible sensors and controllers without soldering. It matters because it can make wiring faster and less error-prone, especially when adding several small modules to a project.
Find this product in
Brands
Sensors & Input
introducing adafruit stemma qt
Document · 1.5 MB · Click any page to view full size
Resources & Downloads
Guides, code examples, and more
Related Tutorials
Free guides on learn.littlebird.com.au
