# Pimoroni Near Optical Flow SPI Breakout (PAA5100JE)

**Type:** Product page · **SKU:** PIM573 · **Brand:** [Pimoroni](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/pimoroni-australia) · **GTIN:** 769894018262
**Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/pimoroni-near-optical-flow-spi-breakout-paa5100je.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/pimoroni-near-optical-flow-spi-breakout-paa5100je.html.md))

Detect motion of close-up surfaces with this Breakout Garden compatible optical navigation breakout - great for floor tracking for ground-dwelling robots!

## Pricing

- **Price:** $41.90 (inc GST) — $38.09 AUD, exc GST
- **Quantity discounts:** 10+ $36.56 (exc GST) · 25+ $35.43 (exc GST)

## Availability & dispatch

- Out of stock — the product page offers email notification when it returns.

## Description

Detect motion of close-up surfaces with this Breakout Garden compatible optical navigation breakout - great for floor tracking for ground-dwelling robots!

The PAA5100JE sensor is used in robot vacuum cleaners and uses a low-resolution camera and some clever algorithms to detect motion of surfaces. This sensor has a **super close range of 15-35mm** so it's suitable for use with a variety of different surfaces. If you're looking for a similar sensor with a bigger range (for attaching to something like a drone) check out the [PMW3901 breakout](https://core-electronics.com.au/pimoroni-pmw3901-optical-flow-sensor-breakout.html).

You can use this breakout completely solder-free with any [Breakout Garden](https://core-electronics.com.au/search/?q=breakout+garden) with an SPI slot, for ease of prototyping.

**Features**

- PAA5100JE-Q optical tracking sensor ([datasheet](https://core-electronics.com.au/attachments/localcontent/PAA5100JE-Q-GDS-R1_156734b7ed7.pdf))
- Two white LEDs on-board for illumination
- Frame rate: 242 FPS (frames per second)
- Range: 15-35mm
- Field of view: 42°
- Maximum speed: 1.14 metres per second (with sensor 25mm away from surface)
- 6mA typical current draw
- SPI interface
- 3.3V or 5V compatible
- Reverse polarity protection
- Compatible with Raspberry Pi and Arduino
- Measurements: approx 24mm x 24.5mm x 5mm (L x W x H, including components)
- [Python library](https://github.com/pimoroni/pmw3901-python)

**Software**

Pimoroni has adapted the PWM3901 [Python library](https://github.com/pimoroni/pmw3901-python) to work with this sensor as well. It makes reading the x/y motion values and their magnitude really straightforward. Use the following line at the beginning of your code to make sure it's set up correctly:

*from pmw3901 import PAA5100*

**Connecting to your Raspberry Pi**

If you're not using a [Breakout Garden](https://core-electronics.com.au/search/?q=breakout+garden), this is how to connect your Near Optical Flow Sensor Breakout up to your Raspberry Pi.

This library is set up to use the front SPI slot by default: BCM 7 for CS, BCM 11 for SCK, BCM 10 for MOSI, BCM 9 for MISO, and BCM 19 for the INT pin.

Here's which pins to connect between your Near Optical Flow Sensor Breakout and your Pi's GPIO (**note that it's BCM pin numbering**):

- 3-5V to any 5V or 3V pin
- CS to BCM 7
- SCK to BCM 11
- MOSI to BCM 10
- MISO to BCM 9
- INT to BCM 19
- GND to any ground pin

You can of course use other pins but you'll have to change them accordingly when you instantiate the sensor in your code.

## Guides for this product

- [Effective Ways To Measure Distance In Maker Projects](https://core-electronics.com.au/guides/sensors/effective-ways-to-measure-distance-in-maker-projects/)

## Videos for this product

- [Effective Ways To Measure Distance In Your Maker Projects!](https://core-electronics.com.au/videos/effective-ways-to-measure-distance-in-your-maker-projects)

## Images

- [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/p/a/paa5100jeopticaltrackingspibreakout_3of3_large.jpg)