Laser Tracking Servo

While I was taking EECS 371, Applied Circuit Design (highly recommended for electrical engineers looking to improve their knowledge of practical circuit application), taught by Larry Sears at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio my lab partner and I were tasked with building a tracking servo. The device is simply a motor mounted on a potentiometer with a T-pipe mounted on top to hold a laser. We then used the laser to obtain feedback from a solar cell with a paper gradient taped to it. With the laser light shining on the cell the feedback keeps the dot centered on the middle of the gradient. Sharp movements or removing the solar cell from the lasers target area removes the fix on the cell, and thus the feedback. The motor will then oscillate between 0 and 180 degrees moving clockwise and counter-clockwise until it locates the solar cell and receives feedback again. The laser only enters "Search and Destroy" mode on its clockwise rotation, thus that is why it never finds the cell on its CCW rotation, no it's not a bug! Enjoy!

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Laser
• servo
• tracking
• motor
• lab
• electronics
• design
• larry sears
• lawrence sears
• eecs 371
• larry lab