ARK Flow LR

ARK Flow LR – optical flow and long-range distance sensor with DroneCAN

The ARK Flow LR enables drones and unmanned aerial vehicles to fly in GPS-denied environments – such as inside buildings, halls or tunnels. The module combines an optical flow sensor, a long-range time-of-flight distance sensor and a 6-axis IMU on a compact board.

The PixArt PAA3905 flow sensor works from a distance of 80 mm and automatically detects challenging surfaces such as checkerboard and stripe patterns or glossy surfaces. An integrated IR LED supports operation in low light. The Broadcom AFBR-S50EX85D distance sensor provides altitude readings from 0.6 to 100 m – significantly more than previous flow modules.

The ARK Flow LR is a direct drop-in replacement for the ARK Flow, connects to PX4 or ArduPilot flight controllers via DroneCAN, supports ROS 2 and is manufactured in the USA and NDAA compliant.

Features

• Optical flow, distance sensor and IMU in one module
• For GPS-denied flight, e.g. inside buildings and tunnels
• Distance measurement from 0.6 to 100 m at 10 Hz
• Automatic detection of challenging surfaces and integrated IR LED for low light
• Drop-in upgrade for the ARK Flow
• Compatible with PX4 and ArduPilot, ROS 2 support via ros2_dronecan
• Firmware updates via DroneCAN/UAVCAN
• Made in USA, NDAA compliant

Technical data

Notes

• The achievable range of the distance sensor depends on lighting and the ground surface.
• The ARK Flow LR uses its own firmware and replaces the ARK Flow without mechanical changes.

Scope of delivery

• 1× ARK Flow LR
• 1× Pixhawk standard CAN cable, 4-pin