TCRT5000 5-Channel Infrared Line Tracking Sensor Module

A single-sensor line follower can only tell a robot whether it is on the line or off it; this 5-channel array reports WHERE across the line's width the robot currently sits, which is what makes proportional steering possible instead of a jerky on-off correction. Five TCRT5000 infrared reflective sensors spaced 15mm apart read the surface beneath the robot simultaneously, and a 74HC14D chip cleans up each sensor's signal into a reliable output.

Each channel gives its own reading, so control code can weight the five values to calculate exactly how far off-center the robot has drifted and correct proportionally - smoother, faster line-following than any single-sensor design can achieve, particularly through curves.

Standard sensor array for line-following robot competitions and projects where accurate proportional steering matters more than the simpler on/off logic a single sensor provides.