Anonymous
Mar 24, 2026
Rating: 4/5
Good for altitude hold
Using this for low-altitude holding on a small drone. It performs well on solid surfaces but struggles slightly with dark or absorptive materials. Overall, a solid choice for the cost.
Description
Reviews
| Brand | - |
| Category | Robotics / STEM Teaching Tools / Sensors |
| Origin | - |
| Sensor Type | Time-of-Flight (ToF) Laser |
| Model Number | VL53L0X |
| Operating Voltage | 2.6V to 3.5V |
| Interface Protocol | I2C |
| Max Range | Up to 2 meters (dependent on target reflectivity) |
| Field of View | Approx. 25 degrees |
| Wavelength | 940 nm VCSEL |
| Accuracy | +/- 3 mm up to 1 meter |
| Dimensions | 14mm x 10mm x 3mm |
| Operating Temperature | -20°C to 70°C |
Anonymous
Mar 24, 2026
Rating: 4/5
Good for altitude hold
Using this for low-altitude holding on a small drone. It performs well on solid surfaces but struggles slightly with dark or absorptive materials. Overall, a solid choice for the cost.
Anonymous
Mar 22, 2026
Rating: 5/5
Easy to integrate
As someone new to embedded systems, I found the documentation and community support for the VL53L0X very helpful. Got it running with a Raspberry Pi in under an hour.
Anonymous
Mar 21, 2026
Rating: 4/5
Great value but sensitive to sunlight
Works perfectly indoors. However, I noticed the range drops significantly when used in direct sunlight, which is expected for this type of sensor. For indoor automation, it is unbeatable at this price point.
Anonymous
Mar 19, 2026
Rating: 5/5
Consistent performance
Bought five of these for a multi-sensor array. All units performed consistently with minimal calibration required. The noise filtering capabilities are impressive for such a small module.
Anonymous
Mar 19, 2026
Rating: 5/5
Compact and reliable
The form factor is tiny, making it easy to fit into tight spaces. Wiring was straightforward with the labeled pins. Measured distances matched my tape measure readings within a few millimeters.
Anonymous
Mar 05, 2026
Rating: 5/5
Perfect for robotics projects
This sensor is incredibly accurate for short-range detection. I used it on my line-following robot to detect obstacles, and the response time is excellent. The I2C library for Arduino works flawlessly out of the box.
Q: How does target color affect accuracy?
A: Dark or black surfaces absorb more laser light, which can reduce the effective range and stability of measurements. Light-colored, reflective targets provide the best performance and maximum range.
Q: Is a library available for ESP32?
A: Yes, there are several open-source libraries compatible with the ESP32 platform. The Adafruit VL53L0X library and Pololu library are popular choices that support ESP32 architecture.
Q: Can it measure through glass?
A: No, Time-of-Flight lasers generally cannot measure distance through transparent materials like glass because the light passes through rather than reflecting back. It will likely measure the distance to the glass surface itself or fail.
Q: What is the maximum refresh rate?
A: The refresh rate depends on your configuration settings. In standard mode, it can achieve up to 50Hz, but higher precision modes may reduce this frequency. You can adjust timing budgets via the library.
Q: Does this module work with 5V logic levels?
A: The sensor operates at 2.8V. While many breakout boards include a voltage regulator, the logic lines are not always 5V tolerant. We recommend using a level shifter if connecting directly to a 5V microcontroller like an Arduino Uno.