ToF laser sensor measuring distance up to 4 m over I2C, regardless of target colour.
The VL53L1X fires an invisible laser pulse and times its bounce, giving a reliable distance reading that doesn't depend on colour or ambient light like ultrasonic or IR sensors. You can define regions of interest and detection zones.
It's used in presence detection, robotics, level control and gestures. Versus the HC-SR04 (ultrasonic), it's more precise, faster and smaller, at a slightly higher price.
Pros
- Precise and independent of target colour
- Fast and compact
- Configurable regions of interest
Cons
- Direct sunlight reduces range
- Range limited to ~4 m