Phone torch (Flash Force)

Status: ✅ device-confirmed (Micro Scout)

A phone torch is the simplest VLL emitter: the phone's camera torch flashes the VLL pattern at the Micro Scout's sensor, with zero hardware and zero soldering.

Details

• Implemented in Flash Force (web app), verified on the Micro Scout. Works on iPhone Safari and Android Chrome (torch via getUserMedia + applyConstraints({advanced:[{torch:true}]}), needs a secure context/HTTPS).
• Downside: browser timers jitter → there's a timing scale control (works 1.05–1.35×, default 1.2×).
• Code Pilot and Scout decode the same VLL codes, so a torch could drive them too — untested (only the Micro Scout is confirmed).

Best for

Quick, no-gear use. For rock-solid timing, prefer FTDI DTR + LED or Arduino · ESP32 + LED.

Links

• adriansieber — Control LEGO via Swift on iPadOS — the Swift/iPad VLL project Flash Force is based on