Is there a I2C module that works like a handheld distance meter?

Sensors Distance
1

For about $120 I can buy a handheld laser distance meter with an accuracy spec of (+/- 2 mm +50 ppm) and a claimed range of 100 meters, see for example the MiLESEEY D9 Pro. It does want a white surface for the max range, but this one does not use a retroflector. I know it works ok at 40 m just on bare concrete. I assumed that I should be able to buy a raw OEM module controlled by I2C or serial etc. with similar specs. As far as I know, I cannot. I’d love to hear that I am wrong, but if I’m right, I wonder why that is? Is it true that no one wants such a thing?
EDIT: if you’re curious, the D9 Pro accuracy spec is on p.44 of the manual at https://cdn-files.myshopline.com/file/store/1709871255948/D9-Pro-User-Manual-2.pdf
By comparison the latest (v4) Garmin “LIDAR-Lite” even with averaging, is +/-1 cm at 2 m and +/- 5 cm at 10 m, so that is maybe an order of magnitude worse than what I’m talking about.

2

The UNI-T UT390B costs about USD 40, is claimed to have accuracy of +/-2 mm at 40 m, and has a serial port.

For hacking it, see Uni-T UT390B | Hackaday

Note: the “+” version may be a new model, possibly without the serial port.

I’ve seen similar bare laser ranging modules from Chinese suppliers, so look around.

3

Thanks, I realize now that OEM modules are in fact available at the usual places at moderate prices, such as: “50m/164ft Laser Distance Measuring Sensor Range Finder Module Low cost Diastimeter Single & Continuous Measurement” and there is even some minimal documentation on the serial interface protocol used. Like the handheld units, they have 1 mm resolution and claim ~2mm accuracy. Probably at the slowest rate, at short range and ideal conditions, however this is basically what I was looking for.

[EDIT] Ah, in fact another module “20hz High Accuracy 80m Laser Sensor Range Finder Distance Measuring Module TTL Interface Ardunio” claims even better performance, 1 mm accuracy (standard deviation) at 5 Hz sample rate (and I assume short ranges), and switchable between 1 and 0.1 mm resolution (!) Most such writeups seem ignorant of the difference between accuracy and resolution, but this one looks intriguing.