A system to avoid obstacles, having an infrared emitter emitting an infrared pulse, an infrared receiver aligned with the infrared emitter so as to receive a reflection of the infrared pulse, a timer coupled to the infrared emitter and infrared receiver, the timer controlling a length of time the infrared emitter emits the infrared pulse and an exposure duration of the infrared receiver, the timer simultaneously initiates the emitting of the infrared pulse and an initiation of the exposure duration of the infrared receiver, and a controller coupled to the timer, the infrared emitter and the infrared receiver to adjust the exposure duration of the infrared receiver to determine a distance of an object reflecting the emitted infrared pulse.