Alan Bond's Servo Controller

This module was developed for the control of servo operated guns and cranes mounted on the decks of model boats, but aircraft, military and robotics modellers etc will doubtless find other applications for it. It combines the functionality of an R/C switch, a servo-slower and a servo stretcher in a single unit not much larger than a standard servo.

The R/C switch function detects joystick positions either side of a centre deadband and sets the servo moving in the appropriate direction. Releasing the stick (to centre) at any time stops the movement and holds the servo position achieved. The end of travel limits for port and starboard can be individually set by the user. Also, if the servo can cope with being (mechanically) over-driven, the usual +/- 45 degrees of available swing can be extended up to a full +/- 90 degrees, thereby avoiding having to gear up the servo shaft to achieve such an angle of rotation - this solution is also free of the backlash and jerkiness associated with gearing or chain drive. The traverse rate of the servo can be set to take from approximately 2 to 30 seconds from end-to-end (180 degree swing)

A kit of all the parts including a programmed PICAXE chip plus a colour assembly booklet but excluding the optional case is available from TECHNOBOTS

http://www.technobots.co.uk/acatalog/Servo_Controller_for_R_C_Models.html

If you need a ready made and tested module Technobots can arrange for this to be supplied.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• servo
• controller
• slower
• stretcher
• picaxe