Selecting a Product

MB1200 XL-MaxSonar-EZ0

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ0 offers the widest and most sensitive beam pattern of any indoor sensor we currently offer. An excellent choice wherever wide beam detection, reliable people detection, or reliable small obstacle detection are required. Price each $44.95. More on this sensor

MB1210 XL-MaxSonar-EZ1

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ1 offers a lower hardware gain and a smaller, narrower detection zone than the MB1200. This makes the XL-MaxSonar-EZ1 a great choice for people detection applications. Price each $44.95. More on this sensor

MB1220 XL-MaxSonar-EZ2

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ2 is our most recommended indoor sensor. It offers the best balance between wide or narrow beams and provides a good balance between small and large target detection. Price each $39.95. More on this sensor

MB1230 XL-MaxSonar-EZ3

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ3 has high noise tolerance and a narrow beam with more sensitivity than the MB1240. Price each $39.95. More on this sensor

MB1240 XL-MaxSonar-EZ4

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ4 has the highest noise tolerance and narrowest beam of any of our indoor sensors. Designed to provides reliable range information to large targets even in environments with noise sources. Price each $39.95. More on this sensor

MB1260 XL-MaxSonar-EZL0 (10 Meter)

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZL0 matches the up close calibration of the MB1200. The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZL0 can detect large targets to 1068 cm (420 inches). Price each $54.95. More on this sensor

MB1261 XL-MaxSonar-EZL1 (10 Meter)

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZL0 matches the up close calibration of the MB1210. The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZL1 can detect large targets to 1068 cm (420 inches). Price each $54.95. More on this sensor

The XL-MaxSonar-EZ Sensors At a Glance

Different applications require different sensors. MaxBotix Inc., has divided our product lines into a series of products with varied sensitivity and maximum range to allow you to select the best sensor to meet your needs.

The diagram above shows how each product balances sensitivity and noise tolerance. The MB1260 & MB1261 are longer range components which match the calibration of the MB1200 & MB1210 respectively. To view how each sensor will function to different sized targets reference the XL‑MaxSonar Beam Patterns.

The Difference Between XL-MaxSonar-EZ and XL-MaxSonar-AE

Sensors from the XL-MaxSonar-EZ (1200 series) have pulse width output.
Sensors from the XL-MaxSonar-AE (1300 series) have analog envelope output. The AE output allows for easy troubleshooting and is also suitable for users who wish to do advanced signal processing.

Both the XL-MaxSonar-EZ product line and the XL-MaxSonar-AE product line offer users the serial and analog voltage distance outputs.

For further help in selecting a sensor use our Sensor Selection Guide

Sensor Line Specifications

• Resolution of 1 cm
• 10Hz reading rate
• 42kHz Ultrasonic sensor measures distance to objects
• RoHS Compliant
• Read from all 3 sensor outputs: Analog Voltage, Serial, Pulse Width
• Virtually no dead zone, objects closer than 20 cm range as 20 cm
• Maximum Range of 765 cm (300 inches) or 1068 cm (420 inches)
• Operates from 3.3-5.5V
• Low 3.4mA current requirement
• Small, light weight module
• Designed for easy integration into your project or product
• Operational Temperature from 0˚C to +65˚C (32˚F to +149˚F)
• Real-time automatic calibration (voltage, humidity, ambient noise)
• Firmware filtering for better noise tolerance and clutter rejection
• 200,000+ Hours Mean Time Between Failure

• Quote Request Form: For orders greater than 100 sensors

Reliable Ultrasonic Sensors

The industrial XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ products are a high quality for cost indoor ultrasonic distance sensor. They provide an industrial component module solution that offers easy to use outputs, virtually no sensor dead zone, calibrated beam patterns, stable range readings, low power demands, and a host of other features as detailed in the product datasheets.

The XL-MaxSonar-EZ sensors represent an industry revolution that have already found use in a number of advanced or industrial solutions where ultrasonic sensors historically have not been considered a viable solution for many applications due to unstable readings and high power and size requirements.

The Noise Filtering

The sensor dynamically adjusts its sensitivity to compensate for outside electrical & acoustic noise sources.

The Interface

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ interface was designed to be very easy and intuitive to use. The interface output formats included are pulse width output, analog voltage output, and asynchronous serial digital output. All interfaces work without user code or complicated setup strings.

The Power Requirements

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ functions throughout a 3.3V to 5.5V operational voltage range.  This allows for easy integration at either 3.3V or 5V and means that users of low voltage microcontrollers, or those who wish to operate in solar or battery based systems do not have to provide an extra power supply for the sensor.

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ sensors have a 3.4mA average current draw during free ranging operation.

The Controlled Beam Shape

Similar ultrasonic products may have frequent side lobe detection and can even falsely trigger on objects behind or to the sides of the sensor. The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ offers a controlled beam that is designed to reject small objects (clutter) outside of the central beam area and provides long range sensitivity without detecting frivolous or unwanted targets.

Users are encouraged to pick the product with the sensitivity that best matches their application.  In the XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ product line the products with the widest beam are the MB1200 and MB1260. The product with the narrowest beam is the MB1240.

The Calibration

Each XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ is tested for proper operation at our facility and comes with a factory calibrated beam pattern to help ensure consistent operation of the sensor even from part to part.

The XL‑MaxSonar‑EZ automatically calibrates to its environment before every range reading. This calibration includes compensation for voltage, humidity, acoustic noise, and electrical noise conditions. Temperature compensation for speed of sound changes are not applied.

The Sensitivity to Match Your Application

All users are encouraged to select the lowest sensitivity sensor that still easily matches their target size and distance detection requirements.

For people detection applications: Internal testing of our product shows that people typically have a detection pattern between that of a 6.35mm (1/4-inch) dowel and a 25.4mm (1-inch) dowel.

The MB1220 offers the best balance and is the sensor we recommended for a variety of applications.

Users concerned with only detecting large objects may want to select a sensor with a lower sensitivity such as the MB1230 or MB1240.

Users that desire a wide beam product and wish to detect smaller targets or people to longer distances should choose the MB1200 or the MB1210.

Additionally, the MB1260 and the MB1261 are longer range versions of the MB1200 and MB1210 and offer object detection out to 1068cm (420 inches).

Reference the product datasheets or the XL-MaxSonar-EZ Beam Patterns to get detailed information on how each sensor operates to different targets.