KY-033 TCRT5000 Tracking Module

The KY-033 TCRT5000 Tracking Module, also known as a line follower module, is a versatile sensor designed for precise line tracking applications. It utilizes an optical sensor consisting of an infrared LED and a phototransistor to accurately detect and track lines on surfaces. The module emits infrared radiation from the LED, which is then reflected off the surface being tracked. The phototransistor detects the reflected light, and by measuring the changes in its resistance, the module can determine the position of the line. The KY-033 line follower module finds applications in various automatic control systems, particularly in vehicles and devices that require accurate line tracking capabilities. One of the notable features of the module is its adjustable sensitivity. It includes a potentiometer that allows users to fine-tune the sensitivity based on the specific line-tracking requirements of their project. The KY-033 operates within a wide voltage range of 3.3V to 5V, making it compatible with different microcontroller boards and systems commonly used in electronic projects. With its precise line tracking capabilities, adjustable sensitivity, and compatibility with various systems, the KY-033 TCRT5000 Tracking Module offers a reliable solution for applications that require accurate line-following functionality.

KY-033 SPECIFICATIONS

On the front side, this module has an infrared emitter/receiver, an adjustable potentiometer, a LM393 differential comparator, and an indicator LED. The back side has 4 resistors, two of which are 10 kΩ, one is 1.5 kΩ and the other one is 220 Ω.

The KY-033 has 3 pins: GND, OUT, and VCC. The output pin of the module is digital, its state is HIGH when the module is on top of a black surface, signaling that a line is detected. The state is LOW when the module is on top of a white surface, signaling that a line is not detected.

The indicator LED turns on when the infrared light is reflected back to the receiver, meaning that a line is not detected.

CONNECTION DIAGRAM

KY-033 ARDUINO CODE

In the following Arduino sketch, we’ll read the digital signal from the output pin of the KY-033 every 500 milliseconds, and use the serial interface to send messages to the computer.

The signal will be HIGH when the module is in front of an opaque (black) surface, indicating that a line has been detected. The signal will be LOW when the module is in front of a reflective (white) surface, meaning that a line is not detected.

int sensorPin = 7;  // line detection sensor interface
int val;            // variable to store sensor reading

void setup() {
  pinMode(sensorPin,INPUT);  // define sensor as input  
  Serial.begin(9600);     // initialize serial communication with PC
}

void loop() {
  val = digitalRead(sensorPin); // read value from sensor
  
  if (val == HIGH) { 
    Serial.println("Line detected"); 
  } else { 
    Serial.println("Line NOT detected"); 
  }

  delay(500);
}

Use Tools > Serial Monitor on the Arduino IDE to see the results, make sure to adjust the transmission speed to 9600 baud.