FAQ

Environment/Conditions of use

If the scene is bright, but the object I am trying to sense is shaded from the sun light, would your sensors register this better?

In this situation, the sensor will behave correctly. You should be able to get consistent readings from the sensor, unless the reflectivity of the target is very low.

If the scene is bright, but the object I am trying to sense in the narrow beam of the sensor is less reflective, would it register this better, regardless of the brightness of the rest of the scene?

Tthe sensor range and measurements capability will vary depending on the measured range, the external light conditions and the target reflectivity. The further the range, the harder it will become for the sensor’s emitted signal to do the round trip because it is less and less focused. The more you raise the ambient light, the harder it will be for the sensor to beat the external interferences. The less reflective the target, the more the emitted signal will be absorbed and thus, harder to identify. In this situation if the target has a low reflectivity and is exposed to a bright light, it will definitively reduce the sensor’s performances and risks oversaturating it.

Does the sensor adjust it’s exposure to cater for the brightness of the scene it is looking at, like an iris would in a camera lens?

Yes. Depending on the measured range, the light conditions and the target’s reflectivity, the sensor will change its ‘exposition time’. All this is perfectly handled automatically by the sensor thanks to its factory calibration.

My sensor is not working outdoors on a bright day; is it because it was overloaded with light and therefore ‘clipping’?

Yes, in this situation the sensor gets lots of interferences from the sun that are reflected on the target. If you took a picture with a photo camera with strong sunlight, at some point, the picture would be overexposed (very bright) and you could not clearly distinguish the details. Even though we calibrate our sensors, it is difficult to replicate the power of the sun in the infrared wavelength and unfortunately this is one of the limits of infrared LED technology.

Can we enclose your Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor modules or fit them behind a cover?

It is possible, but you need to take some factors into account. You will need to use a material that will allow the wavelength of light emitted by the sensors to passthrough unhindered. You will also need to give some consideration to the housing to ensure that emitted light is not reflected back into the receiver by the glass or cover material. If you have an OEM or higher volume requirement, we can work with you to assist you with the integration. Please contact us for further discussion.

What happens if there are two obstacles in the Field of View?

Our ToF sensor modules deal with multiple targets by averaging the distance between the objects. The average is weighted according to the object emitting the strongest return signal. In the majority of cases, this will likely correlate to the largest object. It could also relate to surface reflectivity relative to the other objects. To discuss your specific application please contact us.

Which surfaces are hard to detect for Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors modules?

Our ToF sensor modules emit and receive infrared light. They work very well on most surface types and in a wide range of conditions.

For all active ToF sensors, a highly light absorbing material will absorb some of the emitted light and result in a weaker return signal. A weaker return signal may reduce the maximum attainable range, update rate or reading accuracy. Highly reflective surfaces usually return a strong signal, but in some cases, the light can be reflected off at an angle and also result in a weaker return signal. Ultimately we always advise you to test sensors for the specific applications and conditions you have in mind. To discuss your specific application please contact us.

Can your Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor modules handle vibrations?

Our ToF sensor modules have been mounted on drones, robots and in many other applications where they were subject to vibrations. The sensor modules continue to function according to the specification where vibrations experienced were within reasonable limits and to date none of our sensors have been returned due to vibration damage.

Do your Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor modules work underwater?

Underwater environments represent a challenge for optical-based sensors. There are many variables and the only way to know if they might meet your requirements is to test them. Generally, seawater will quickly absorb the infrared light emitted by ToF sensors, so range will certainly be compromised.

Our ToF sensors are not waterproof and would need to be integrated within a waterproof housing and that alone needs careful consideration. If you have a high volume application, we can potentially work with you on a project basis to build a suitable solution which may be based on optical or other technologies. If this is the case, and you are looking for a development partner, please contact us.

Do your Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor modules detect water surfaces?

Yes, we have tested our sensor modules over water and they detect its surface; customer tests have also confirmed this. Results may vary depending on the type of water (clear, or with waves and foam, etc) and we always recommend performing a test for your specific application and conditions.

You can expect the sensor module to read the surface when the water is not perfectly transparent and still.

Do your Time-of-Flight (ToF) based products work at night or in the dark?

Yes. Our ToF sensor modules are ‘active’, meaning that they emit and receive their own light pulses.  This means our sensor modules work very well in dark conditions.

Are your sensors good for drone-based applications?

We actually started out as a drone services provider and the sensors were initially conceived for drone use, so it’s an application we know very well. We have many customers using TeraRanger sensors to complement drone vision systems.

You can use the TeraRanger Tower Evo for collision avoidance purposes. You may also use the TeraRanger Evo 60m or TeraRanger One as a precision altimeter for stable altitude hold, terrain following and auto landings. For more information please read our use case on the subject.

Do your Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors work in rain, fog or snow?

Rain, fog, and snow can all affect optical sensing devices. The final performance of the sensors will depend on the intensity of the environmental conditions. We recommend that you conduct your own testing with a sample sensor to check if it suits your specific environment and operating conditions.

Does your technology work outdoors?

The answer depends on which product you intend to buy. You will find a link in the downloads section to each product’s user manual in the downloads section of each product page.

Purchasing process

Do you have any distributors in my country?

We have a growing list of distributors across the world. Please contact us so that we may help you find the closest distributor to you.

I need a quote. What is the process?

For all quote inquiries, please contact us.

How long will it take to receive my order?

We ship all over the world with DHL Express!

Your order is prepared the same day, or the next morning, and shipped via DHL. Depending on your location, shipping time takes between 1 to 5 business days.

For example:

  • Shipping within Europe takes 2 business days
  • Shipping to the USA takes 4 business days
  • Shipping to China takes 4 business days
  • Shipping to Japan takes 5 business days  
  • Shipping to India takes 5 business days

Are you interested in sponsorship deals or supporting student projects?

If you buy and use our products and they are featured in a video, case study or some other high-quality material, we are happy to consider offering a discount on future product purchases. If you think you have a truly special proposition for us, please contact us with your idea.

Can we get free samples for testing?

We do not provide free samples but have made discounted evaluation kits available for purchase. If you have a specific technical requirement or wish to purchase in high volumes (from 100 units and up), please contact us.

How to apply a coupon?

Upon checkout, if you have received a coupon code, you may copy and paste it into the coupon code section then click on the “Apply Coupon” button to update the cart prices.  We sometimes send coupon codes to customers through our monthly newsletters. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on all our latest news and product announcements.

My credit card payment failed. What do I do?

If your credit card payment did not go through, our advice is to try again with Paypal. PayPal accepts credit card payments even if you don’t have a PayPal account. If you have further difficulties, please contact us.

When and how will I receive an invoice for my order?

When your order is completed and payment has been received, you will receive your invoice by email. This is an automatically generated email; if you don’t see it in your inbox, please check your spam folder.

What is the ECCN number for your products?

Our products ECCN number is EAR99.

Application & Tech Specific Inquiries

Do you have solutions for anti-collision and obstacle avoidance applications?

Yes, we do!

Please browse through these products according to your requirements:

    • TeraRanger Tower Evo – a plug and play multi-directional anti-collision system with either 4 or 8 Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors. Perfect for mobile robots and drones.
    • TeraRanger Hub Evo Build your own sensor module array. Connect up to 8 TeraRanger Evo sensors of the same type with a single TeraRanger Evo Hub board. Stream distances in millimeters from each sensor to build you own anti-collision system. Choose between TeraRanger Evo 60m, TeraRanger Evo 3m and TeraRanger Evo 600Hz range finder sensor modules. Each sensor requires a TeraRanger Hub Evo Backboard interface to connect to the hub board.
    • TeraRanger Evo 3m – a short-range ToF sensor module
    • TeraRanger Evo 60m – a long-range ToF sensor module

Safety/Standard/Certification

Are your ToF sensors eye-safe?

There is no need to wear eye protection. We would not advise you to look directly into the LED’s at close range when the device is running, but eye-safety in all conditions is one of the things that makes our sensors different.

Are your Evo sensors compatible with Arduino?

Yes, we provide instructions and sample code for connecting the TeraRanger Evo sensors to an Arduino here but it requires hardware modifications. Please note that if you choose to modify our sensors or backboards, you will fully acknowledge the risk of damaging the sensor and we cannot offer any guarantees or support. We strongly advise you read the User Manual for the TeraRanger Evo sensor you intend to use before any modification.

Are your sensors compatible with Pixhawk?

Yes, the following sensors are compatible with Pixhawk:

Solutions

Is it possible to re-design your product for our project?

We can potentially work with you on a project basis but would need to know more details about the project, application & estimated volumes. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

Do your sensors have an API / Development Kit?

The majority of our sensors do not require development kits or API’s. They simply stream data in digital format. For example, ToF sensors and cameras stream distance values in millimeters without the need for you to perform any calibrations or signal conversions. They are plug and play and very simple to use. Most products have a GUI so you can easily test them and visualize the data on a PC via a USB connection.

Can you change certain specs in sensor and camera performance?

We can engage in custom development projects for OEM integrations. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements.

Can you support the software implementation for our project / application?

Yes, we can. The vast majority of our customers handle this themselves, but if you need help we are happy to explore your requirements. We also provide a number of free resources to help our clients. See the related topics on our GitHub and WikiRos.

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