MakerFocus TF-Luna LiDAR Range Finder Sensor Module, Single-Point Micro Ranging Module 0.2 to 8m Compatible with Pixhawk, Arduino and Raspberry Pi with UART / I2C Communication Interface

Very Reliable and accurate LIDAR Module I purchased this LIDAR unit in 2023 and am finally giving it a review. This is used to monitor the distance between a downhill/uphill tram and the winch building that controls the tram. I installed this lidar module in a waterproof box that has a clear plastic cover. The lidar module is used with an Arduino board and Elegoo touch screen that notifies the winch to stop upward movement when the tram is less than 3 feet from the winch building. When the LIDAR detects > 3ft the screen displays a green "SAFE" message with the distance in feet. When the LIDAR detects < 3ft the screen displays a red "UNSAFE" message with the distance in feet, turns on an alarm and stops the winch. There is a switch on the box that is for alarm only. The photos show the lidar module and the monitor that displays the distance between the tram and building. Bye the way, this lidar works through the clear acrylic cover as seen by the photo that has the clear lid closed. The photo that shows 3.61 ft was taken with the clear lid shut on the case. This unit is normally attached to the outside of the winch building from May to November. I unplug the unit and bring it inside during the winter. So the photos that show the unit were taken on my workbench. I just walked to and from the LIDAR module to show the different values and warnings. All of the items used (LIDAR, Arduino mega, elegoo monitor, waterproof box, etc. were purchased on Amazon). I have used this for almost 3 years with no problems.

I bought this to build a LiDAR sensor to trigger Halloween animatronics. Every year I buy something new and every year it's great but not perfect. This finally broke that cycle. This was the best thing I have ever bought for this purpose. I can set a minimum and maximum range in my code, and this will let me only trigger props when people are exactly in between the ranges. Using the sample code for this it gives you distance in millimeters. It is extremely accurate and polls extremely fast. I did notice that once and a blue moon it would reflect the light weird and throw a crazy reading. My solution for this since I was triggering a command was to just check 2 pollings in a row. If 1 was in scope immediately check the next polling and trigger only if it is also in scope. Since these anomalies only every happen by themselves this prevents a false positive.

Wiring was easy. Was plug and play and the screw width is exactly the width of my flight controller board, making it easy to mount. Also not terribly expensive.

This sensor is amazing. It is a laser distance device but uses a non-visible laser. Safe for the eyes.

TF Luna is a very neat device for $19.95. Works much better than any sonars on my hobby robots. I originally tried a TF Mini. The only thing I didn't like was that, no matter what I did I couldn't get the thing to respond to commands. Also, it samples continually (I assume Luna does likewise), so I built a pMOSFET switch to turn off power except when I actually need the device.

There is an excellent review already posted, with pinout. I would add the following (all from the TF-Luna spec sheet, just google "tf-luna pins")... -wire 5 is not just ground. it must be grounded to use I2C (won't work if floating) -wire 6 does... something (I'm still not sure what, but it's described in the specs) -wire 1 must be >3.7v per specs, so 5v -logic can be 3.3 volts... works fine accuracy seems very good, speed of measurement is great, range is better than cheaper IR TOF sensors. I haven't tested the max reported (8m)... but works at 6m

Did not work upon connection, which requires an external ttl to usb converter and jst gh to dupont connector.

This TOF TF-Luna module works with 3v3 devices like ESP32 without logic level shifting (see data sheet). Connect Red(1) = 5v; Blue(2) = SDA; Blue(3) = SCL; Black(4) = GND; Blue(5) = GND; Blue (6) = no connection. Data sheet shows From Github search for TFLI2C library and examples. Note the default I2C address of 0x10. Compile and upload to ESP32. Below is the developers example code and it works. /* File Name: TFLI2C_simple.ino Developer: Bud Ryerson Date: 25 SEP 2020 Version: 0.1.0 Described: Simplified Arduino example sketch for the Benewake TF-Luna Lidar sensor configured for the I2C interface */ #include <Arduino.h> // Every sketch needs this #include <Wire.h> // Instantiate the Wire library #include <TFLI2C.h> // TFLuna-I2C Library v.0.1.0 TFLI2C tflI2C; int16_t tfDist; // distance in centimeters int16_t tfAddr = 0x10; // Default I2C address // Set variable to your value void setup() { Serial.begin( 115200); // Initalize serial port Wire.begin(); // Initalize Wire library Serial.println( "TFLI2C example code simplified"); // Say "Hello!" Serial.println( "25 Sep 2020"); // and the date. } void loop() { if ( tflI2C.getData( tfDist, tfAddr)) // If read okay... { Serial.print("Dist: "); Serial.println(tfDist); // print the data... } else tflI2C.printStatus(); // else, print error. delay( 50); }