Guidance for possible LRF (laser range finder)

Projects General Guidance
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I am curious if you guys could help me figure out if the LRF (laser range finder) project I've dreamed up is possible.

I looked around on the internet and through the forums and couldn't find anyone talking or even mentioning the module I'm attempting to use.

A little run down of what I'm trying to accomplish:

I'm attempting to make a pic or weaver rail mounted laser range finder. I looked around and was absolutely astonished at the lack of options on the market. At first being discouraged with my findings, luck, destiny, fate or whatever you want to call it shined upon me as I seen the Arduino starter kit that had been on my Amazon wishlist for years now. I thought what a time to be alive where we can with some effort see things like this we imagined can be created. BUY IT NOW!!

Now with the starter kit in hand and quickly burning through that book and starter projects I figured I would come here to ask if what I'm attempting is even possible.

When I first started looking on Amazon I had difficulty tracking down a longer distance range finder module. Seemed that most of them were either ultrasonic or bare lasers with minimal ranges. I considered trying to build one myself but after reading around on other peoples forums posts here it seems to be quite difficult and requires a higher skill set then someone at my level. After some further searching and some searching tricks I learned selling on Amazon I finally found what appeared to be the EXACT thing I needed. The stars had aligned again.

Now down to the basic theory around this project

I have an Arduino Uno from the starter kit.

I want to control this module https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0Z30HX/

Have the results displayed on this oled screen https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01G6RE2DQ

All of it being powered by this battery https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0137IPVY6

Now my biggest question is can that LRF module be used with an Arduino? I attempted to contact the seller but haven't received a response and that was about 2 weeks ago now.

I can't quite tell if this even needs an Arduino or if the board it's attached to is already doing the control functions.

Here's a copy of the item description for those who don't like to follow links in forums (totally understand)

Note:
Send command of ā€œOā€: turn on the laser;
Send command of ā€œCā€: turn off the laser;
Send command of ā€œDā€: measure distance and return the results;
Send command of ā€œSā€: return the module temperature and supply voltage.

Specifications:
Measuring Range: 0.03-100m
Accuracy: Ā±1mm
Measuring Time: 0.3-3s
Laser Type: Class 2 635nm, <1mW
Power Supply Voltage: 2.8V-3.2V
Operating Temperature: 0~40Ā°C
Storage Temperature: -25~60Ā°C
Item Size: 6.8 * 3.8 * 1.7cm / 2.68 * 1.50 * 0.67in
Item Weight: 20g / 0.73oz
Package Size: 9 * 9 * 3cm / 3.54 * 3.54 * 1.18in
Package Weight: 36g / 1.29oz

To summarize:
Is this project possible with the given hardware I've chosen?
Does the LRF module need an Arduino board or can it be controlled, displayed, and powered independently?

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated even if it's not the response I want to hear.

1 Like
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Although the answer is a possible "yes", there is not enough information on the Amazon web page to know for sure if the laser range finder can be used with Arduino, or how. You will definitely need more technical information for this project to succeed.

On the other hand, the LidarLite can be used with Arduino, and works very well. The LidarLite is much faster, but does not have the range claimed for the above. LIDAR-Lite v3 - SEN-14032 - SparkFun Electronics

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for those who don't like to follow links in forums (totally understand)

Clearly you don't understand, or you would have posted them properly in the first place. See that post at the top of every forum section? For every "link" you post like that, form members have to carefully select the first to last characters of the link, copy, open a new browser tab and paste. It's a right faff. If you had done them properly, it would be one click.

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jremington:
Although the answer is a possible "yes", there is not enough information on the Amazon web page to know for sure if the laser range finder can be used with Arduino, or how. You will definitely need more technical information for this project to succeed.

On the other hand, the LidarLite can be used with Arduino, and works very well. The LidarLite is much faster, but does not have the range claimed for the above. LIDAR-Lite v3 - SEN-14032 - SparkFun Electronics

Thanks for your response. I could use the LidarLite to at least begin the project. The effective range of what I'm using is approximately 110m though so I would eventually need to develop a way to range further. I also found this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1000m-DIY-Range-Finder-Laser-Distance-Meter-Module-Distance-Speed-Angle-Height-Measurement-USB-to-TTL/32803558041.html?spm=2114.13010308.0.0.jMLwYT

However, I imagine that it would be the same thing of the possibility being there but might require sufficient device hacking to accomplish.

I suppose the only way to start figuring it out would be to just start ordering stuff and playing around.

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just start ordering stuff

If you can't get the technical documents on how to communicate with the range finder, this could be an extremely difficult challenge. Manufacturers of consumer electronics do not give out such information, as a general rule.

Are you comfortable with reverse engineering consumer electronics, e.g. do you have a good logic and/or bus analyzer?

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No, I'm not proficient in reverse engineering electronic components quite yet. However, I messaged the manufacturer direct and they claim to send it with detailed instructions on how to incorporate it into an Arduino or Rasberry Pi.

I'm skeptical though as this is a Google translate of Chinese to English. They also gave me 70% off deal on a 50m module to test to see if it can be accomplished. At which point I would just need to upgrade to the 100m module or the 1000m module. I figured I've wasted more money on more ridiculous stuff than this so why not.

They sent me a video to a working version of basically the same LRF I'm trying to create(even had the attachment for the weaver rail). Claiming it was all done utilizing basically the same components I listed.

Here's the link to that product.
Gun mounted LRF

I"ll keep you updated as I go along. They said they were gonna send the module on DHLIE which usually takes about 6 days coming out of China.

Thanks again for your response. I really appreciate it.

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I guess I must have gotten an error in trying to reply yesterday. I located an advertisement for the 100M module on AliExpress which stated that the interface was TTL Serial 19.2 KBaud. That should be easy enough to get working with Serial or SoftwareSerial.

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johnwasser:
I guess I must have gotten an error in trying to reply yesterday. I located an advertisement for the 100M module on AliExpress which stated that the interface was TTL Serial 19.2 KBaud. That should be easy enough to get working with Serial or SoftwareSerial.

Fantastic! I'm super excited about this project.

Thanks for letting me know!