Servo

The Servo service is used to control servos through a micro-controller such as an Arduino or a Raspberry pi (ServoController).

The service will allow to control attaching or detaching the device, control his position and the speed at wich it move to that position, and turn off/on the servo.

servo.attach(controller, pin, pos, velocity): Initial servo device attachement to the microcontroller

servo.detach(controller): detach the servo from the microcontroller

servo.enable(): will turn the servo motor on

servo.disable(): will turn the servo motor off

servo.moveTo(pos): ask the servo to move to a position

servo.moveToBlocking(pos): ask the servo to move to a position and wait the position reached

servo.map(inputMin, inputMax, outputMin, outputMax): default to (0,180, 0, 180). Allow to map a range to a valid output range that can be understand by the servo. The outputMin and outputMax must have value between 0 and 180.

servo.setInverted(true/false): Reverse the direction of rotation of the servo.

Look at sample script bellow for others commands !

Setup

Connect the signal wire to a pin on the controller

Connect the (+) wire to the (+) of a power source (battery or power supply)

Connect the (-) wire to the ground of a power source AND the ground of the controller

Servo needs a lot of current and require to be connect to a power source that can provide enough current. The controllers (Arduino or Raspberry pi) are not strong enough to make the servo work properly and you should avoid connecting the 5V of the controller to the servo.

Speed control

servo.setVelocity(degree/s): Will force the servo to rotate at the specify velocity. If the speed specify is faster than the servo capability, the servo will turn at a lower speed than expected. The value -1 will bypass the speed control and have the servo rotate normally.

This is a common Servo service.  All simple Servos need to attach to a ServoController.  Currently, the list of ServoControllers are :

• Arduino
• AdafruitMotorShield - although this is just a passthrough to the Arduino pin 9 & 10

The Servo needs a controller in order to operate.  You should be able to select one in the drop down.  Select the correct signal pin the servo is attached to.  Then select "attach" and the servo should be controllable with the slider bar.  Limits can be set in order to protect the servo from going beyon a certain minimum and maximum value.

Modular Block Diagram showing the differences of sweeping a Servo from MyRobotLab versus sweeping it from the microcontroller (Arduino)

Example for develop:

#file : Servo.py edit raw

#########################################
# Servo.py
# categories: servo
# more info @: http://myrobotlab.org/service/Servo
#########################################
# uncomment for virtual hardware
Platform.setVirtual(True)

# Every settings like limits / port number / controller are saved after initial use
# so you can share them between differents script 

servoPin01 = 4
servoPin02 = 5

# port = "/dev/ttyUSB0"
port = "COM15"

# create a servo controller and a servo
arduino = Runtime.start("arduino","Arduino")
servo01 = Runtime.start("servo01","Servo")
servo02 = Runtime.start("servo02","Servo")


# initialize arduino
# linux or macos -> arduino.connect("/dev/ttyUSB0")
print("connecting arduino to serial port")
arduino.connect(port)

# set limits
print("setting min max limits of servo")
# servo01.setMinMax(0, 180)
servo01.map(0, 180, 0, 180)

# set rest position
servo01.setRest(90)

# attach servo
print("attaching servo with pins to controller")
servo01.attach(arduino.getName(), servoPin01)
servo02.attach(arduino.getName(), servoPin02)

# auto disable - this enables (starts pwm) before a movement
# and disables (stops pwm) after a movement
servo01.setAutoDisable(True)
# servo02.setAutoDisable(False)

# speed changes
print("speed changes")
servo01.setSpeed(20) ## Low speed
servo01.moveToBlocking(90) # moveToBlocking will wait for finished move

servo01.setSpeed(50) ## medium speed
servo01.moveToBlocking(180) # moveToBlocking will wait for finished move

servo01.unsetSpeed() ## max speed ( no more speed conytol )
servo01.moveTo(0) # we cannot use moveToBlocking if servo speed is set to -1 ( max ) !!
sleep(2)


# fast sweep 10 seconds
print("fast sweep")
servo01.setSpeed(300)
servo01.sweep(0, 180);
sleep(10)
servo01.stop()


# print info
print("servo position :{}".format(servo01.getPos()))
print("servo pin :{}".format(servo01.getPin()))
print("servo rest position :{}".format(servo01.getRest()))
print("servo speed :{}".format(servo01.getSpeed()))
print("servo is inverted :{}".format(servo01.isInverted()))
print("servo min :{}".format(servo01.getMin()))
print("servo max :{}".format(servo01.getMax()))


# sync servo02 with servo01
# now servo2 will be a slave to servo01
print("syncing servo02 with servo01")
servo02.sync(servo01)

servo01.moveTo(10)
sleep(0.5)

servo01.moveTo(179)
sleep(0.5)

servo01.moveTo(10)
sleep(0.5)


# writing position in us
servo01.writeMicroseconds(1875)
print("servo position :{}".format(servo01.getPos())) # check if correct ?


# moving to rest position
print("servo01 rest")
servo01.rest()
sleep(2)

# turn off power if servo01.setAutoDisable(False)
print("turn of servos pwm")
servo01.disable()
servo02.disable()

# detaching servo01 from controller
# TODO - make arduino.detach() detach all services
print("detaching servos from controller")
servo01.detach()
servo02.detach()