Fermion TMF8801 ToF Light Pulse Range Sensor

Sometimes electronics sensors have superseded our human senses, allowing us to explore and measure a world that would otherwise be invisible to us. One of these worlds is simply the night, where darkness obscures our vision. Fortunately, not all robots need eyes to see! Sensor breakout boards like this Fermion TMF8801 (ToF) Range Sensor uses light pulses from itself to measure the time difference of the light’s travel to detect distance and proximity. This means that you can measure distance whether standing outside on a sunny day, or within the dark indoors.

The TMF8801 Light Pulse Range Sensor is an easy lightweight board that operates with a Time-of-Flight (ToF) system for single zone detection of objects, no matter their colour, reflectivity or texture. Using its I2C fast communication interfaces, you can connect the sensor to your Arduino and other components. An external optics is not needed, however, because this sensor has an integrated micro controller built in. You will enjoy high accuracy distance measurements within 5% whether the environment is dark or light. The TMF8801 Range Sensor has a handy distance detect range of 2cm to 250cm. An included histogram adds features such as dynamic cover glass calibration, crosstalk compensation, and minimalization of background light noise through on-chip sunlight rejection filters.

All these fantastic features allow these sensor modules to function far beyond just proximity detection. Makers have enjoyed these TMF8801 Sensors to add a variety of functions to their robotics and smart tech projects, including 3D face recognition, presence detection, or collision avoidance.

Additional Resources:

• If you’re unsure where to start, we recommend taking a look at the original DFRobot TMF8801 Range Sensor Wiki Page, where you can find a good range of resources, including schematics and sample codes.

As self-proclaimed “Robo-holics”, DFRobot is a company comprised of over 100 staff members, of which 30% are engineers who love to build robots. It was started in 2008 with the goal of embracing and promoting open-source hardware, with a core focus on Arduino, Raspberry Pi and their very own LattePanda development boards. Since then, DFRobot have manufactured over 1300 unique modules, sensors and components that all work together and complement each other, allowing users like us to enjoy a full spectrum of cutting edge robotics and electronics without having to pay premium prices.

With the primary goal of developing and manufacturing great quality products, while making them accessible to as many people as possible, DFRobot are rapidly becoming one of the most common-place brands in the world of open-source robotics and electronics. With more than 1300 products developed in-house, and an impressive range of different categories and specialisations, there are few brands in the world who can compete in terms of quality, accessibility and genuine innovation.