Fermion TMF8701 60cm ToF Light Pulse Range Sensor

Sometimes, electronic sensors surpass our human senses, enabling us to explore and measure a world that remains hidden to us. One such world is the realm of darkness that obscures our vision at night. Thankfully, not all robots rely on eyesight to "see." Sensor breakout boards, like the Fermion TMF8701 (ToF) Range Sensor, utilize light pulses to measure the time it takes for light to travel, enabling them to detect distance and proximity. Consequently, you can measure distances both outdoors on a sunny day and indoors in complete darkness, up to 60cm range.

The TMF8701 60cm Light Pulse Range Sensor is a lightweight and user-friendly board that employs a Time-of-Flight (ToF) system to detect objects within a single zone, irrespective of their color, reflectivity, or texture. With its I2C fast communication interfaces, you can easily connect the sensor to your Arduino and other components. Unlike other sensors, this one comes equipped with an integrated microcontroller, eliminating the need for external optics. It provides highly accurate distance measurements within a 5% margin of error, regardless of the lighting conditions. The TMF8701 Range Sensor boasts a convenient detection range of 10cm to 60cm. Additionally, it includes a histogram that enhances its functionality by offering dynamic cover glass calibration, crosstalk compensation, and on-chip sunlight rejection filters to minimize background light noise.

These remarkable features enable these sensor modules to go beyond proximity detection. Makers have leveraged the TMF8701 Sensors to incorporate a range of functionalities into their robotics and smart tech projects, such as 3D face recognition, presence detection, and collision avoidance.

Additional Resources:

• If you’re unsure where to start, we recommend taking a look at the original DFRobot TMF8701 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.