GreyRobotics - Line Follower Robot Analog/Digital Sensor Array of 6 Using Reflectance Sensors for High Precision

This sensor is perfect for all types of users: Professionals/Hobbyists.Professionals because this array gives just enough amount of data out to you so that you can code and introduce extra features to it using code. No fancy microcontrollers on board for signal processing, no fancy features like auto calibration and no LCD displays which make other line sensing arrays very costly.Hobbyists because even they can handle this simple data coming from the sensor and just has the perfect amount of electronics. Due to the low cost, even a hobbyist can afford it instead of hassling on a PCB manually to build the same circuit.Some of the things I really liked about this product are:1. Larger soldering pads so that even amateurs can solder the bergs onto it and bergs are provided with the array. (These are the small things that a product developer puts thought into: making it a really good product)2. Absence of a discussion forum is compensated by the company, Grey Robotics, themselves mailing you a detailed guide on how to use the sensor array, along with verified DIY links for projects and a datasheet. So, that's a nice personal touch.3.They are active on other social media platforms for enquiry too, which makes them more approachable as compared to other sellers.Reviews on the product itself:1.Big fan of the soldering pads and the extra power pinouts for powering other peripheral sensors, if any.2. The sensors work best at a distance of roughly 5-6 mm from the ground with/without ambient light which confirms with the datasheet.3. The sensors can properly differentiate between black and white without any further thresholding in the code. As seen in the picture, I've used a proper black tape on a pure white sheet for testing. I haven't tested for other colors (they may require thresholding) and I didn't use the test sheet provided by grey robotics.P.S. Check the last 2 pictures for per sensor digital and analog response as I move my sensor from left to right. (Ignore values after 6 peaks, they’re irrelevant.)Pro tips:1. As you can see in the pictures, I have soldered the array using the bergs mounting it on a breadboard as well as soldered bare wires onto it. The bergs solder like a charm and so do the bare wires. I personally prefer soldering bare wires and then providing some mechanical protection to it using superglue etc. because loose connections introduce noise in the readings and are just unavoidable. Hence, to make a connection as noise-free as possible, try making your connections as permanent and immovable as possible. In my case, I used a FewiKwik gel to give it mechanical protection so that the wires never come off and neither do they move around the end causing wires to break off too.2. In reference to my previous point, making a connection permanent comes along with some thought given about your application. You can use bergs if your application is short term and doesn't require the kind of effort put in.In case you mean to use this sensor on a line following robot, where the sensor is subject to mechanical jerks, has to be used for a long time and the robustness of your connections is extremely important to the robot, do consider making it permanent.3. I would suggest reading data digitally for a black line on white surface because it makes the task of data acquisition just that more easier. As you can see from the digital and analog response graphs too. The digital response is far cleaner than the analog response which is still noisy. Also, the peaks are varying from 0V to 5V because this is the ideal condition (black on white). For other colors, you may need to perform thresholding which may not be so easy because the disparity between the black line and the background color may not be much. In such cases, handling analog data becomes a bit difficult.

Product is very nice but could be handled better

Not good sensing, need to keep very close to the tape to detect, they also do not attend to email queries,No calibration feature available on this line sensor array.

Useless and Hyped, the distance range is so less you've to literally kiss the surface to the sensor and the QTR Min and Max calibration valyes have less difference, worst part is that blue LED with so much brightness it throws into the surface, for what useless readings ?

Excellent product. On time delivery. Packaging is done really well. The sensor is very easy to use as it comes along with its user manual. Recommended for most of your robotics projects and applications. Fits well on my robot. Very accurate results. The smallest IR based line follower sensor uptil now. The dimensions are as mentioned. Worth its price.

Great product ...... quality is awesome

Sensor did not provide proper output signal. Because of this we lost Line follower event in IIST, HUGELY DISAPPOINTED.

good