Sensor Component

Explanation of sensor configuration and usage in Viam.

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This page explains how to set up a generic sensor component with Viam. Viam has a few types of sensor implemented including an ultrasonic sensor, but this doc will go over setting up a custom sensor so you can implement almost any sort of sensor. Note that Viam has a separate, more specific component type called movement sensor specifically for GPS units, IMUs, and other sensors that detect position, velocity and acceleration.

Encoders (component type).

Hardware Requirements

Some sort of sensor
A board
Depending on the type of sensor output, an analog to digital converter may be necessary to allow the sensor to communicate with the board

Wiring

This will depend on the sensor. Refer to the sensor’s data sheet.

Viam Configuration

When you create a custom sensor you’ll create a set of attributes unique to that sensor model. The JSON file you create must include a type (sensor), model (whatever you named your custom sensor model), and name (of your choice; used to refer to that specific sensor in your code). You will also need to include whatever required attributes you define in your custom sensor component implementation.

{
    "name": "mySensorName",
    "type": "sensor",
    "model": "mySensorModel",
    "attributes": {},
    "depends_on": []
}

Getting started with sensors and the Viam SDK

This example code reads values from an ultrasonic sensor connected to a robot.

Assumption: A sensor called “ultra1” is configured as a component of your robot.

Python
Go

from viam.components.sensor import Sensor

robot = await connect()
sensor = Sensor.from_robot(robot, "ultra1")
distance = await sensor.get_readings()["distance"]

import (
"go.viam.com/rdk/components/sensor"
)

ultra, err := sensor.FromRobot(robot, "ultra1")
distance, err := ultra.Readings(context.Background())

You can read more about sensor implementation in the Python SDK Documentation.