[nzlug] Controlling a basic servo-motor ...

[Bernard O'Leary]

Hi all,

I'd like to spend a bit of time over Christmas messing with a servo-motor.
Initial goal is to get my head around how to control it via the serial port,
more long term to be able to apply the techniques I learn to small-scale
robotics projects.

Am hoping to be able to be able to do things from (more-or-less) first
principals - write the device driver that will be the source of the PCM
signal, some sort of controlling application, etc. I'm aware that there is
some risk of damaging the servo if it is sent a PCM signal that is out of
range.

At this stage I'm looking for pointers, advise, and answers to a few
questions. For example - is it advisable to test the serial port output
using an oscilloscope prior to hooking up the servo? And is it sweet to hook
the serial port output directly to the PCM signal input on the servo, or
should there be some hardware in-between? What is the recommended way to
power a servo (I assume the serial port lacks the necessary juice
requirements)? etc ...

Clearly I'm no electronics engineer. I do have some basic digital
electronics experience and knowledge though, and tons of textbooks. One way
or the other I'll be going ahead with this project - so some time (and
potentially harware) saving guidance would be appreciated ;-)

Ta,

Bernard.