Break beam sensor using VL53L0X for Home Assistant using ESPHome

distance-sensor-0.yaml

##
## A standard "break beam sensor" uses a laser or LED with a device on both
## sides of an opening and is triggered when something breaks the beam
## (such as a customer walking through the beam). Some garage doors use them.
## Stores often use them at the entrace to ring a chime when a customer enters
## or leaves.
##
## This is my attempt at using a VL53L0X i2c Time of Flight sensor 
## as a break beam sensor in Home Assistant using ESPHome.
##
## The binary sensor 'breakbeam_sensor' is
## * A synthetic break beam that is controlled by changes 
##   to 'breakbeam_sensor_dist'.
## * Should only send changes when the 'beam is broken':
##   * 'breakbeam_sensor_dist' becomes < 'minTripDistance' (or)
##   *  'breakbeam_sensor_dist' becomes to greater than 'minTripDistance'
##
## The sensor 'breakbeam_sensor_dist' is the actual VL53L0X sensor. 
## * The maximum reliable "open" distance seems to be to about 1.5 meters.
## * This sensor is marked intnernal as to not send distance data to HA.
## * When distance first falls less that 'minTripDistance', 
##   'breakbeam_sensor' will turned on.
## * When the distance is first greater than 'minTripDistance', the
##   'breakbeam_sensor' will be turned off.
## * This will poll at 0.1s. This seems fast enough, but 1s was not.
## 

esphome:
  name: distance-sensor-0

esp8266:
  board: esp01_1m

# Logging (DEBUG is the standard level)
logger:
  level: INFO

# Enable Home Assistant API
api:

ota:
  password: "XXXXX"

wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password
  fast_connect: true

  # Enable fallback hotspot (captive portal) in case wifi connection fails
  ap:
    ssid: "Distance-Sensor-0"
    password: "XXXXX"

captive_portal:

# the vl53l0x is i2c
i2c:
  scan: true

##
## The virutal break beam sensor.
## The state of this will be controlled 
## by breakbeam_sensor_dist's lambda as necessary.
##
binary_sensor:
  - name: "Breakbeam Sensor"
    id: breakbeam_sensor
    platform: template
    device_class: motion

##
## The actual sensor. 
## This sensor's lambda will control the state of our 
## virtual break beam sensor, breakbeam_sensor.
##
sensor:
  - name: "Breakbeam Sensor Dist"
    id: breakbeam_sensor_dist
    platform: vl53l0x
    address: 0x29
    update_interval: 0.1s
    long_range: true
    internal: true
    #
    # Only send a value back if breakbeam_sensor changes.
    #
    filters:
      - lambda: !lambda |-
          /**
           * YOU MIGHT WANT TO CONFIGURE THIS.
           * Distance below which to trip the virtual break beam sensor.
           * '0.5' meters is about 20  inches.
           */
          static double minTripDistance = 0.5;

          if (x <= minTripDistance) {
            if (id(breakbeam_sensor).state == true) {
              // Beam was already broken
              return {};
            }
            // Beam was just broken
            id(breakbeam_sensor).publish_state(true);
            ESP_LOGI("breakbeam_sensor_dist", "Set breakbeam_sensor to Detected");
            return {};
          }
          else {
            if (id(breakbeam_sensor).state == false) {
              // Beam was already un-broken
              return {};
            }
            // Beam was just un-broken
            id(breakbeam_sensor).publish_state(false);
            ESP_LOGI("breakbeam_sensor_dist", "Set breakbeam_sensor to Cleared");
            return {};
          }

@wizardnl AWESOME! I'm glad you got it all running! Thanks for the heads up about changing address - very useful! I don't think the ESPHome driver did that when I first implemented this (or I missed it). I would have loved to have used just one.

Had to try it to see if it would work with 14 sensors. ;-) In theory, I can now control every step on my stairs individually. I still need to do some intensive testing, but for now, it works. Thanks again for sharing your code.

@wizardnl Looks like you picked up the ball and ran with it. Sure would be appreciated if you shared the code you came up with in a new gist.

I'am using your script and I'am very satisfied. I would like more people to know about that, so I ask you for permission to publish the script on Home Assistant community blog. Of course all attribution goes to you, I will hide my littleness :-)

I found that HA 2024.6.0 asked for i2c for attribution to GPIO so I write

#the vl53l0x is i2c
i2c:
sda: GPIO2
scl: GPIO3
scan: true

p.s.
If I use code it brings oneliner?

# the vl53l0x is i2c i2c: sda: GPIO2 scl: GPIO3 scan: true

@wizardnl AWESOME! I'm glad you got it all running! Thanks for the heads up about changing address - very useful! I don't think the ESPHome driver did that when I first implemented this (or I missed it). I would have loved to have used just one.

Had to try it to see if it would work with 14 sensors. ;-) In theory, I can now control every step on my stairs individually. I still need to do some intensive testing, but for now, it works. Thanks again for sharing your code.

Hey @wizardnl , have you managed to actually implement this? What is the maximum cable length you have used?
In my experience vl53l0x will not work for long cables. I think i2c isn’t meant to be used that way :|