Sensors

Accelerometers, Gyros, & Compasses

Compare Accelerometers, Gyros, & Compasses

Measure acceleration and track rotation with these accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses/magnetometers, and combined inertial measurement units (IMUs) and orientation sensors.

Optical Range Finders

Compare Optical Range Finders

These IR distance sensors make it easy to detect and range objects. Our Sharp sensors are less expensive than our sonar range finders and they have higher update rates, but their maximum detection range is shorter.

Sonar Range Finders

Compare Sonar Range Finders

Accurately measure distances over a wide range with our assortment of ultrasonic distance sensors from Maxbotix and Parallax.

Current Sensors

Compare Current Sensors

An assortment of unidirectional and bidirectional Hall effect-based current sensors. They offer a very low-resistance current path and electrical isolation between the current source and the measuring circuit. You can use these sensors to monitor your motor current, detect current spikes, or even to make inexpensive current probes for your oscilloscope.

Gas Sensors

Compare Gas Sensors

Want to build your own breathalyzer? This variety of semiconductor gas sensors makes it possible to measure concentrations of gasses such as alcohol, methane, propane, butane, and carbon monoxide.


Force-Sensing Resistor - 0.2" Circle
Pololu item #: 1695
Price: $5.85
Quantity:

Force-Sensing Resistor - 0.2" Circle

This force-sensing resistor (FSR) from Interlink Electronics is a passive component that exhibits a decrease in resistance when there is an increase in the force applied to the small, circular active area (0.2"/5mm diameter), allowing you to create a sensor that is able to detect force or pressure. The polymer thick film (PFT) device is optimized for use in human touch control of electronic devices and can sense an applied force ranging from a few dozen grams to over 10 kg (22 lb).

Force-Sensing Resistor - 0.5" Circle
Pololu item #: 1696
Price: $6.44
Quantity:

Force-Sensing Resistor - 0.5" Circle

This force-sensing resistor (FSR) from Interlink Electronics is a passive component that exhibits a decrease in resistance when there is an increase in the force applied to the circular active area (0.5"/12.7mm diameter), allowing you to create a sensor that is able to detect force or pressure. The polymer thick film (PFT) device is optimized for use in human touch control of electronic devices and can sense an applied force ranging from a few dozen grams to over 10 kg (22 lb).

Force-Sensing Resistor - 1.5" Square
Pololu item #: 1645
Price: $7.95
Quantity:

Force-Sensing Resistor - 1.5" Square

This force-sensing resistor (FSR) from Interlink Electronics is a passive component that exhibits a decrease in resistance when there is an increase in the force applied to the 1.5"×1.5" (38×38 mm) active area, allowing you to create a sensor that is able to detect force or pressure. The polymer thick film (PFT) device is optimized for use in human touch control of electronic devices and can sense an applied force ranging from a few dozen grams to over 10 kg (22 lb).

Force-Sensing Resistor - 24" x 0.25" Strip
Pololu item #: 1697
Price: $17.95
Quantity:

Force-Sensing Resistor - 24" x 0.25" Strip

This force-sensing resistor (FSR) from Interlink Electronics is a passive component that exhibits a decrease in resistance when there is an increase in the force applied to the 24"×0.25" (610×6.3 mm) active area, allowing you to create a sensor that is able to detect force or pressure. The polymer thick film (PFT) device is optimized for use in human touch control of electronic devices and can sense an applied force ranging from a few dozen grams to over 10 kg (22 lb).

66-Channel LS20031 GPS Receiver Module
Pololu item #: 1249
Price: $49.95
Quantity:

66-Channel LS20031 GPS Receiver Module

The Locosys LS20031 GPS receiver integrates a MediaTek MT3329 66-channel GPS chip with a ceramic antenna to create a complete GPS module that can track up to 66 GPS satellites at a time. The GPS module supports up to a 10Hz update rate, a built-in rechargeable battery for rapid satellite acquisition (external power is still required for normal operation), and more than 6 different NMEA ASCII sentences that are output to a TTL-level serial port.

QTR-8RC Reflectance Sensor Array
Pololu item #: 961
Price: $14.95
Quantity:

QTR-8RC Reflectance Sensor Array

This sensor module has 8 IR LED/phototransistor pairs mounted on a 0.375" pitch, making it a great detector for a line-following robot. Pairs of LEDs are arranged in series to halve current consumption, and a MOSFET allows the LEDs to be turned off for additional sensing or power-savings options. Each sensor provides a separate digital I/O-measurable output.

QTR-8A Reflectance Sensor Array
Pololu item #: 960
Price: $14.95
Quantity:

QTR-8A Reflectance Sensor Array

This sensor module has 8 IR LED/phototransistor pairs mounted on a 0.375" pitch, making it a great detector for a line-following robot. Pairs of LEDs are arranged in series to halve current consumption, and a MOSFET allows the LEDs to be turned off for additional sensing or power-savings options. Each sensor provides a separate analog voltage output.

QTR-1RC Reflectance Sensor
Pololu item #: 959
Price: $2.49
Quantity:

QTR-1RC Reflectance Sensor

The QTR-1RC reflectance sensor carries a single infrared LED and phototransistor pair in an inexpensive, tiny 0.5" x 0.3" module that can be mounted almost anywhere and is great for edge detection and line following applications. The output is designed to be measured by a digital I/O line.

QTR-1A Reflectance Sensor
Pololu item #: 958
Price: $2.49
Quantity:

QTR-1A Reflectance Sensor

The QTR-1A reflectance sensor carries a single infrared LED and phototransistor pair in an inexpensive, tiny 0.5" x 0.3" module that can be mounted almost anywhere and is great for edge detection and line following applications. The reflectance measurement is output as an analog voltage.

Pololu 42x19mm Wheel and Encoder Set
Pololu item #: 1218
Price: $39.95
Temporarily out of stock. See product page to backorder.

Pololu 42x19mm Wheel and Encoder Set

This set includes a pair of 42×19mm wheels, a pair of extended brackets, and two matching encoders. Just pick a pair of micro metal gearmotors to complete your feedback-enabled drive system.

Encoder for Pololu Wheel 42x19mm
Pololu item #: 1217
Price: $14.95
Quantity:

Encoder for Pololu Wheel 42x19mm

This quadrature encoder works with our micro metal gearmotors, 42×19mm wheel, and extended bracket to measure the rotation speed and direction of the wheel. With twelve teeth on the wheel, the system provides a resolution of 48 counts per revolution, which corresponds to a linear resolution of just under 3 mm or 1/8".

Pololu IR Beacon Transceiver Pair
Pololu item #: 702
Price: $49.95
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Pololu IR Beacon Transceiver Pair

The Pololu IR beacon is a compact board that is used in pairs to allow robots to locate each other. Each board has infrared emitters that shine in all directions and four IR receivers for detecting the other beacon. The IR beacons have a range of about fifteen feet indoors. This item is for a pair of beacons in one package.

Pololu IR Beacon Transceiver
Pololu item #: 701
Price: $27.95
Quantity:

Pololu IR Beacon Transceiver

The Pololu IR beacon is a compact board that is used in pairs to allow robots to locate each other. Each board has infrared emitters that shine in all directions and four IR receivers for detecting the other beacon. The IR beacons have a range of about fifteen feet indoors. This item is for a single unit.

Pololu IR Beacon Development Board
Pololu item #: 704
Price: $14.95
Quantity:

Pololu IR Beacon Development Board

The IR beacon development board is just an assembled IR Beacon PCB with no IR sensors or firmware. This item is intended for advanced users who want to customize their IR beacon functionality by writing their own firmware. No documentation is shipped with this IR Beacon Development kit.

Vishay TSOP34156 IR detector module 56kHz
Pololu item #: 837
Price: $2.50
Quantity:

Vishay TSOP34156 IR detector module 56kHz

This is the IR receiver used in the Pololu IR Beacon. This sensor family features a wide operating voltage range and allows for relatively high data rates; this particular unit is tuned for a 56 kHz carrier frequency.

Passive Infrared (PIR) Detector SE-10
Pololu item #: 1635
Price: $9.95
Quantity:

Passive Infrared (PIR) Detector SE-10

The passive infrared detector (PID) motion sensor SE-10, also called a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, detects movement of infrared light sources at 7 to 14 μm. People emit infrared radiation from 8 to 14 μm, which makes this an excellent sensor for detecting human movement. Two infrared detector “pixels” allow the detector to filter out changes affecting the whole sensing area, like weather or light.

Parallax ColorPAL
Pololu item #: 1608
Price: $19.95
Quantity:

Parallax ColorPAL

The Parallax ColorPAL combines an RGB LED, a light sensor, and a microcontroller to make a color sensor that can also be used as an ambient light detector and a color generator. Readings are reported via a 1-wire asynchronous serial interface.

MLX90614ESF-AAA Infrared Temperature Sensor 90° FOV
Pololu item #: 1061
Price: $19.95
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MLX90614ESF-AAA Infrared Temperature Sensor 90° FOV

The Melexis MLX90614ESF-AAA is a high-accuracy, high-resolution, non-contact thermometer with a 90-degree field of view. It has a measurement resolution of 0.02°C and is factory calibrated for a wide -70 to 380°C object temperature range. The sensor uses an SMBus (I²C-compatible) digital interface and can be configured to output a customizable 10-bit PWM output for continuous readings.

USB Weather Board V3
Pololu item #: 1693
Price: $124.95
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USB Weather Board V3

Got weather? This board can handle it. The USB Weather Board from SparkFun includes on-board sensors for barometric pressure, humidity, temperature, and light level.

BMP085 Barometric Pressure Sensor Breakout Board
Pololu item #: 1646
Price: $19.95
Quantity:

BMP085 Barometric Pressure Sensor Breakout Board

This is a simple breakout board from SparkFun for the BMP085 high-precision, low-power barometric pressure sensor. The BMP085 offers a measuring range of 30 to 110 kPa with an absolute accuracy of down to 0.003 kPa. It uses piezo-resistive technology for robustness, accuracy and linearity as well as long term stability. This sensor supports a voltage supply between 1.8 and 3.6VDC. It is designed to be connected directly to a microcontroller via an I²C bus.

MPL115A1 Barometric Pressure Sensor Breakout Board
Pololu item #: 1617
Price: $24.95
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MPL115A1 Barometric Pressure Sensor Breakout Board

The MPL115A1 is a MEMS digital barometer that takes barometric pressure readings with a range of 50 to 115 kPa and an accuracy of ±1 kPa and provides the results over an SPI interface. This sensor also doubles as a temperature sensor that operates from -40 to 105 °C. The breakout board’s pins are spaced 0.1" apart making it easy to use with standard breadboards and 0.1" perfboards.

HIH-4030 Humidity Sensor Carrier
Pololu item #: 1643
Price: $16.95
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HIH-4030 Humidity Sensor Carrier

Sparkfun’s carrier board for the HIH-4030 relative humidity (%RH) sensor from Honeywell outputs an analog voltage that varies nearly linearly with humidity. It operates at 5 V while drawing only 200 μA and has a 0.1" pin spacing that makes it compatible with standard breadboards and perfboards.

ADMP401 MEMS Microphone Breakout Board
Pololu item #: 1618
Price: $9.95
Quantity:

ADMP401 MEMS Microphone Breakout Board

Ready to add sound detection to your next project? This small breakout board from SparkFun couples a tiny microelectromechanical system (MEMS) microphone with a 67x gain external amplifying circuit, converting sound into analog voltage signals that can be measured by a microcontroller’s analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The unit comes fully assembled as shown and works from 1.5 to 3.3 V.

Electret Microphone Breakout Board
Pololu item #: 1620
Price: $7.95
Quantity:

Electret Microphone Breakout Board

Ready to add sound detection to your next project? This compact breakout board from SparkFun couples a small electret microphone with a 100x opamp, converting sound into amplified analog voltages that can be measured by a microcontroller’s analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The unit comes fully assembled as shown and works from 2.7 to 5.5 V.

Snap-Action Switch with 50mm Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 5A
Pololu item #: 1403
Price: $0.95
Quantity:

Snap-Action Switch with 50mm Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 5A

This single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch can be used as a general-purpose micro switch, but the long lever arm makes it especially useful as a tactile bump sensor for your robot (e.g whiskers or antennae). The switch body dimension is 20.0 x 6.4 x 10.2 mm, and the lever arm is 50 mm long.

Snap-Action Switch with 16.7mm Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 5A
Pololu item #: 1402
Price: $0.75
Quantity:

Snap-Action Switch with 16.7mm Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 5A

This single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch can be used as a general-purpose micro switch or tactile bump sensor for your robot. The switch body dimension is 20.0 x 6.4 x 10.2 mm, and the lever arm is 16.7 mm long.

Snap-Action Switch with 16.3mm Roller Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 5A
Pololu item #: 1404
Price: $0.85
Quantity:

Snap-Action Switch with 16.3mm Roller Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 5A

This single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch can be used as a general-purpose micro switch or tactile bump sensor for your robot. The switch body dimension is 20.0 x 6.4 x 10.2 mm, and the 16.3mm lever arm is has a roller at the tip.

Snap-Action Switch with 15.6mm Bump Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 5A
Pololu item #: 1405
Price: $0.75
Quantity:

Snap-Action Switch with 15.6mm Bump Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 5A

This single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch can be used as a general-purpose micro switch or tactile bump sensor for your robot. The switch body dimension is 20.0 x 6.4 x 10.2 mm, and the 15.6mm lever arm has a semicircular bump at the tip that simulates a roller.

Mini Snap-Action Switch with 13.5mm Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 2A
Pololu item #: 1401
Price: $0.65
Quantity:

Mini Snap-Action Switch with 13.5mm Lever: 3-Pin, SPDT, 2A

This miniature single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch can be used as a general-purpose micro switch or as a small tactile bump sensor for your robot. The switch body dimension is 12.8 x 6.0 x 6.5 mm, and the lever arm is 13.5 mm long.

Elenco AK-510 Motion Detector Kit
Pololu item #: 320
Price: $19.95
Quantity:

Elenco AK-510 Motion Detector Kit

Learn about electronic motion detectors with this deluxe kit that includes a high-quality enclosure with a mounting bracket. The motion detector makes a loud, doorbell-like “ding-dong” sound when it detects motion. The kit is based on a pyroelectric infrared (PIR) sensor, which is a unique sensor that you can use to give your projects the ability to react to your presence.