The Yocto-RangeFinder is an USB distance senor (range finder). It works by measuring the time-of-flight of an infra-red laser beam that reflects on the target. 

Be aware that this small and relatively cheap module, using a quite harmless laser, does not pretend to be a true telemeter that you could use to measures distances with a millimeter accuracy. Its accuracy is limited, and the detection range depends on the environment. You will find tables describing the expected accuracy depending on the surrounding conditions in the section titled Working principles and limitations of the documentation. 

Measurements can be directly read via USB or stored on the device internal flash for later retrieval when connected again by USB. 

This device has been designed so that the sensor itself can be moved further away from the USB by a few meters: simply split the board into two parts and use a 4-wire cable between the two parts.

This device can be connected directly to an Ethernet network using a YoctoHub-Ethernet, to a WiFi network using a YoctoHub-Wireless-g, it can even be connected to a GSM network thanks to the YoctoHub-GSM.

USB cables and enclosure to be ordered separately.