Analog IR Line-Following / Reflectance Sensor
Analog infrared reflectance sensor — reads gray scale and tracks black-and-white lines on 3.3 V or 5 V systems.
- Material
- PCB & electronic components
- Age range
- 8+
- Category
- STEM Robotics & Electronics
- Customisation
- OEM & ODM available
Specifications, component counts and packaging are configurable. Figures shown reflect our standard configuration.
Key features
- Analog output: IR LED plus phototransistor measure reflected infrared — white reflects more than black, so output voltage drops on white surfaces.
- 510 Ω current-limiting resistor in series with the LED and 47 kΩ pull-up on the output.
- Works with both 3.3 V and 5 V hardware.
- Widely used for black-and-white line detection, maze solving and gray-scale sensing in robot cars.
Frequently asked about this product
How do I connect the Analog IR Line-Following / Reflectance Sensor to my controller board?
The Analog IR Line-Following / Reflectance Sensor uses the standard 3-pin GVS (Ground-VCC-Signal) interface with an XH2.54 connector, so it plugs straight into Arduino UNO, ESP32, micro:bit and our sensor shields with a regular sensor cable — no soldering required. It works with Arduino IDE, Mixly, Mind+, Scratch and mBlock.
What voltage does the Analog IR Line-Following / Reflectance Sensor run on?
The Analog IR Line-Following / Reflectance Sensor runs from a standard 3.3-5 V DC supply (USB or the controller’s 5 V rail). It draws only a few milliamps in normal operation, so it is safe to power from the controller board itself for classroom builds.
What projects is the Analog IR Line-Following / Reflectance Sensor good for?
The Analog IR Line-Following / Reflectance Sensor is built for STEM and robotics education: classroom demonstrations, science-fair projects, robotics club builds and competition robots. It pairs with the rest of our module range — same connectors, same voltage, same toolchain — so students move from first circuit to competition robot without changing platforms.
What certification do the robotics and electronics products carry?
Controller boards, sensors and modules ship with CE marking and RoHS-compliant components, and the range is designed for classroom use under teacher supervision. Product-specific test reports and declarations of conformity are available for distributors on request.
What is the minimum order quantity, and can I get a sample first?
These are standard catalogue lines with stable production, so minimums are low and lead times are short. Samples ship within about a week and are normally credited against a first order. Mixed-SKU cartons are accepted for evaluation orders.
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Need pricing on this line?
Send your target quantity, destination market and any changes you need to artwork, colourway or packaging. We reply with a quotation and the applicable compliance route — usually within one working day.