Laser Range Finder
The Laser Range Finder (LRF) module is a low-cost instrument that uses laser light to measure the distance to a targeted object up to 8 feet away.
The LRF incorporates a multicore Parallax Propeller microcontroller, OmniVision OVM7690 640x480 CMOS CameraCube, and Arima 635nm APC Laser Diode. Distance to a targeted object is calculated by optical triangulation using trigonometry between the centroid of laser light, camera, and object. Applications include distance or liquid level measurements, object detection and/or avoidance, and item counting.
Parallax, Inc. was the exclusive manufacturer of the LRF. The module has been discontinued as of September 17, 2018.
This design is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 United States license.
Module Highlights:
- Optimal measurement range of 6 inches to 4 feet (48 inches)
- Maximum object detection distance of ~8 feet (100 inches)
- Accuracy error of less than 5% (average error of 3%)
- Range finding sample rate of 5 Hz
- Single row, 4-pin, 0.1” header for easy connection to a host system
- Asynchronous serial interface with automatic baud rate detection from 300 to 115,200
Documentation:
Additional Resources:
- Source Code: Parallax Propeller (GitHub)
- Assembly Drawing
- Test Procedure
- Slides: Development Diary: The Parallax Laser Range Finder
- Slides: Laser Range Finding and Game Boy Printing
- Article: Designing a Low-Cost Laser Range Finder - Part 1 (SERVO Magazine, October 2011)
- Article: Designing a Low-Cost Laser Range Finder - Part 2 (SERVO Magazine, November 2011)
Example Projects:
Videos:
- Multiple LRF Demonstrations (YouTube)
- Firmware Upgrade Instructions by Parallax (YouTube)
- Freescale's FSLBOT (YouTube)
- LRF + Nintendo Game Boy Printer (YouTube)
- Object Sensing Robot by Roy Eltham (YouTube)
- Hack A Week episode #13 by Dino Segovis