This library will help you get up and running with the cheap VL53L0X Time of Flight Sensor, in MicroPython, specifically the Raspberry Pi Pico verison.
This code is heavily based on the code by uceeatz: https://github.com/uceeatz with just some tweaks to make it work with the limitations of the Raspberry Pi Pico version of MicroPython.
Things to know - in my testing the sensors was out by about 50mm, so I've just minused that from the result.
I've simplified the reading of results from the sensor, just use:
distance = tof.ping()
to return values in millimeters.
The tof_test demo will continuously print out readings from the sensor, but be sure to replace the pin numbers with those you have used, along with the I2C bus number.
Load up your favourite MicroPython editor (I prefer VS code or Thonny), then upload the vl53l0x.py
file to the Pico, and then the tof_test.py
file. Once you've uploaded these you can run them in Thonny and it will measure the distance and print it out to the REPL console.
Happy Laser-based Measuring!
Kevin McAleer, March 2021
This should be connected to one of the I2C buses. If the board you are using comes with an XSHUT pin, this should be connected (or pulled up) to the positive rail.