Documentation

// VL53L0X Time-of-Flight ranging
// Install: Arduino Library Manager → "Adafruit VL53L0X"
// Wiring: VCC->5V, GND->GND, SCL->A5, SDA->A4

#include <Wire.h>
#include "Adafruit_VL53L0X.h"

Adafruit_VL53L0X lox = Adafruit_VL53L0X();

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  while (!Serial);

  Serial.println("VL53L0X: initializing...");
  if (!lox.begin()) {
    Serial.println("Failed to boot VL53L0X. Check wiring.");
    while (1);
  }
  Serial.println("VL53L0X ready.");
}

void loop() {
  VL53L0X_RangingMeasurementData_t measure;
  lox.rangingTest(&measure, false);

  if (measure.RangeStatus != 4) {  // 4 = out of range
    Serial.print("Distance (mm): ");
    Serial.println(measure.RangeMilliMeter);
  } else {
    Serial.println("Out of range");
  }
  delay(100);
}

// VL53L0X in Long Range mode (up to ~2m outdoors, ~1.5m in ambient light)
// Uses Pololu VL53L0X library for finer control
// Install: Arduino Library Manager → "VL53L0X by Pololu"

#include <Wire.h>
#include <VL53L0X.h>

VL53L0X sensor;

void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Wire.begin();

  sensor.setTimeout(500);
  if (!sensor.init()) {
    Serial.println("Failed to detect VL53L0X");
    while (1);
  }

  // Long range: lower signal rate limit, wider pulse period
  sensor.setSignalRateLimit(0.1);
  sensor.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodPreRange, 18);
  sensor.setVcselPulsePeriod(VL53L0X::VcselPeriodFinalRange, 14);
  sensor.setMeasurementTimingBudget(33000); // ~33 ms

  sensor.startContinuous();
}

void loop() {
  uint16_t distance = sensor.readRangeContinuousMillimeters();
  Serial.print("Distance (mm): ");
  Serial.println(distance);
  if (sensor.timeoutOccurred()) Serial.println("Timeout!");
  delay(50);
}

# VL53L0X on Raspberry Pi using Adafruit CircuitPython
# Install: pip install adafruit-circuitpython-vl53l0x --break-system-packages

import time
import board
import busio
import adafruit_vl53l0x

i2c = busio.I2C(board.SCL, board.SDA)
sensor = adafruit_vl53l0x.VL53L0X(i2c)

# Optional: extend timing budget for more accuracy (default 33000 us)
sensor.measurement_timing_budget = 200000  # 200 ms

print("VL53L0X ready. Reading distance...")
while True:
    try:
        distance = sensor.range
        print(f"Distance: {distance} mm")
        time.sleep(0.1)
    except KeyboardInterrupt:
        break

# VL53L0X on Raspberry Pi Pico (MicroPython)
# Wiring: VCC->3V3, GND->GND, SCL->GP1, SDA->GP0
# Needs the VL53L0X MicroPython driver by Kevin McAleer:
# Copy vl53l0x.py from https://github.com/kevinmcaleer/vl53l0x_micropython
# onto the Pico filesystem.

from machine import I2C, Pin
from vl53l0x import VL53L0X
import time

i2c = I2C(0, sda=Pin(0), scl=Pin(1), freq=400000)
print("I2C scan:", [hex(a) for a in i2c.scan()])

tof = VL53L0X(i2c)
tof.start()

while True:
    distance = tof.read()
    print("Distance:", distance, "mm")
    time.sleep_ms(100)

# VL53L0X on ESP32 (MicroPython)
# Wiring: VCC->3V3, GND->GND, SCL->GPIO22, SDA->GPIO21
# Upload vl53l0x.py driver to the board first (same driver as Pico).

from machine import I2C, Pin
from vl53l0x import VL53L0X
import time

i2c = I2C(0, scl=Pin(22), sda=Pin(21), freq=400000)
print("I2C scan:", [hex(a) for a in i2c.scan()])

tof = VL53L0X(i2c)
tof.start()

while True:
    print("Distance:", tof.read(), "mm")
    time.sleep_ms(100)