Adafruit
Adafruit VL6180X Time of Flight Distance Ranging Sensor (VL6180)
The Adafruit VL6180X is a close-range Time-of-Flight (ToF) distance sensor from ST that measures from approximately 5 mm to 100 mm (up to 150–200 mm in good ...
The Adafruit VL6180X is a close-range Time-of-Flight (ToF) distance sensor from ST that measures from approximately 5 mm to 100 mm (up to 150–200 mm in good conditions). It also includes a built-in ambient light sensor (lux), making it a versatile two-in-one module for proximity and light measurement.
Using an invisible laser and matching sensor, the VL6180X precisely times how long light takes to bounce back — delivering accurate readings without the linearity issues of IR reflectance sensors or the wide cone of ultrasonic sensors. The breakout includes a 2.8V regulator and level shifting for 3–5V compatibility.
Key Features
- Close-Range ToF Sensing – ~5 to 100 mm range (up to 150–200 mm in ideal conditions)
- Built-in Lux Sensor – Ambient light measurement included alongside distance sensing
- Narrow Sensing Cone – Focused invisible laser measures only the surface directly ahead
- I2C Interface – Simple two-wire communication; most processing handled on-chip
- 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 VL53L0X – The VL53L0X covers ~50–1200 mm for longer-range needs but lacks the lux sensor
- vs VL53L4CD – The VL53L4CD covers ~1–1300 mm, combining close and medium range without a lux sensor
Ideal For
- Close-range proximity detection (gesture sensing, paper detection)
- Robotics obstacle detection at short distances
- Combined distance and ambient light sensing
- Interactive installations and touch-free interfaces
Package Contents
- 1× Adafruit VL6180X ToF Distance Sensor Breakout (assembled and tested)
- 1× Header strip (requires soldering)
Resources
- Adafruit VL6180X Tutorial – Code, schematics, wiring diagrams, and more
Jargon buster
Plain-language definitions for the technical terms used above.
- Ambient light sensor
- A sensor that measures the general brightness of light falling on it, similar to how a device can adjust screen brightness automatically. It matters when you want a project to react to room lighting, daylight, shadows, or covered/uncovered conditions.
- 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.
- lux
- Lux is the standard unit for measuring how much light falls on a surface, similar to how a light meter reports brightness. A sensor that outputs lux gives readings that are easier to compare between rooms, outdoor conditions, and different projects.
- 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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