Will the VL53L1X work reading distance from snow?
Hi KPack,
That is an interesting question we have not really tested here. While this sensor may work for measuring the distance between the sensor and snow, your measurements are probably going to be pretty erratic depending on the “type” of snow you are pointing it at. Since snow is not really a solid object, it could diffuse the IR laser the VCSEL emits and throw off the timing of the reflection of that laser.
An ultrasonic sensor might be a decent option here but those are more adept at measuring the depth of snow, not the distance to it. There are some high-end ultrasonic sensors that could work well for measuring the distance to packed snow or ice but probably would be less effective for fresh snow since it is not as dense.
If you would like to learn more about the pros and cons of the various distance sensors we carry along with some links to guides and project pages, take a look at our [Distance Sensing page. That page combines all of the various products, resources, and projects we have that use distance sensors.
I hope this helps you find the right sensor for your project. Let us know if you have any other questions about the VL53L1X or another of our distance sensors and we would be happy to help.](https://www.sparkfun.com/distance_sensing)