TFmini-S LiDAR Sensor Example Code for Arduino

TF Mini laser ranging radar is an optical sensor, but any optical sensor, the sensitivity of the light will be higher. We can use this feature to achieve close-range black and white line detection, line-tracking inspection. (NOTE: black is to absorb all the lights, do not reflect; white is to reflect all the light, do not absorb) We use the signal strength 'Strength' to distinguish between the two colors.

Hardware Preparation

DFRduino UNO R3 x 1
IO Sensor Expansion Board V7.1 x 1
Serial port: USB to Serial x 1
Dupont wires

Software Preparation

Arduino IDE, Click to Download Arduino IDE from Arduino®
DFRobot TF Mini Library, Click to download TF Mini Library

Wiring Diagram

TFmini Connection Diagram(Line-tracking)

TFmini Plus Connection Diagram(Line-tracking)

Other Preparation Work

NOTE: The code needs to be used in concert with TF Mini Library.

Sample Code

/*
  * @File  : DFRobot_TFmini_test.ino
  * @Brief : This example use TFmini to measure distance
  *         With initialization completed, we can get distance value and signal strength
  * @Copyright   [DFRobot](https://www.dfrobot.com), 2016
  *             GNU Lesser General Public License
  *
  * @version  V1.0
  * @date  2018-1-10
*/

#include <DFRobot_TFmini.h>

SoftwareSerial mySerial(12, 13); // RX, TX

DFRobot_TFmini  TFmini;
uint16_t distance,strength;

void setup(){
    Serial.begin(115200);
    TFmini.begin(mySerial);
}

void loop(){
    if(TFmini.measure()){                      //Measure Distance and get signal strength
        strength = TFmini.getStrength();       //Get signal strength data
        Serial.print("Strength = ");
        Serial.println(strength);
    }
}

Result

Downloaded the program, when you repeatedly measure white and black paper at the same distance, a signal strength changes could be seen through the serial port drawing tool.

Example Code for Arduino-Black & White Line Detection