SparkFun Optical Tracking Odometry Sensor - PAA5160E1 (Qwiic)

Elevate your robot’s autonomy with the SparkFun Qwiic Optical Tracking Odometry Sensor, the leading upgrade that delivers industrial-grade navigation for the Experiential Robotics Platform (XRP) and beyond. By combining high-speed optical tracking with a 6-axis IMU on a single compact board, this sensor enables your robot to navigate complex environments with exceptional precision, without GPS or external beacons.

All-In-One Sensor Fusion

What sets this board apart is its ability to do the heavy lifting for you. It features an onboard microcontroller that actively performs sensor fusion, combining data from the PAA5160E1 optical sensor and the built-in 6-axis Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). This means you get robust, real-time position tracking (x, y, and heading) directly from the board, freeing up your robot's main processor for other tasks.

Industrial Precision

Built around the PAA5160E1 chip from PixArt Imaging, this sensor is engineered for high-speed applications like the XRP, but is more than capable of handling any project you may need it for:

• High Speed: Capable of tracking movement at speeds up to 2.5 meters per second, making it perfect for fast-moving warehouse or competition robots.
• Accuracy: Offers a typical error rate of 3-5% out of the box, which can be reduced to under 1% with proper calibration under ideal conditions.
• Surface Versatility: Delivers accurate dual-axis motion data across a wide variety of hard floor surfaces.

Optimised for Competition

While the sensor has a versatile operating range of 10mm to 27mm across most surfaces, it has specific requirements for soft foam field tiles commonly used in competitions such as FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC). For these porous surfaces, the sensor must be mounted exactly 10mm from the tile surface to ensure accurate tracking.

Are you a FIRST Tech Challenge team? This sensor is perfect for you! It's much more compact than odometry wheels and can be positioned anywhere under your robot, making hardware integration significantly easier while offering comparable performance. The sensor must be positioned exactly 10mm from the field tiles for ideal tracking performance. In addition, a Java library is available for ease of use. Make sure you also have the Qwiic to STEMMA Cable to connect your sensor to the control hub.

Seamless Integration

Measuring just 1in. by 1in., this board is significantly smaller than industry-standard boards and fits easily into tight chassis designs. Thanks to the Qwiic Connect System, you can plug it directly into your XRP or other robotics project without complex wiring. With comprehensive Arduino and Python libraries included, you can implement professional-grade odometry in minutes, not days.

• Schematic
• Eagle Files
• Board Outline
• Register Map
• Hookup Guide
• Datasheets
  • Optical Tracking Sensor - PAA5160 Datasheet
  • 6-DoF IMU - LSM6DSO Datasheet
  • Microcontroller - STM32C0 Datasheet
• Qwiic Info Page
• XRP Info Page
• Software Libraries
  • Arduino Library GitHub Repo
  • Python Package GitHub Repo
  • Java Library GitHub Repo
• Hardware GitHub Repo