Servo Motors
Recommended for grades 9–14.
Introduction
Servos are small, relatively inexpensive motors known for their ability to provide a large torque or turning force. They draw current proportional to the mechanical load, which means the heavier the load, the larger the current draw. Servo motors are controlled by pulse-width modulation or PWM. In PWM, the shaft of the motor is oriented to specific angular positions within about a ±90° range by sending the servo a square wave voltage pattern. The length of time that the square wave is at the high voltage controls the shaft position. The servo motor will hold its position firmly as long as the square wave continues. A servo horn or arm is often attached to the shaft of the motor to convert the motor's rotational motion to linear motion. Servo motors are used in small-scale robotics applications, in rack and pinion steering, and in radio-controlled models to adjust the flaps on a plane or the rudder of a boat. While servo motors can be used for steering, they are not normally used for driving the wheels of a car, because they cannot continuously rotate without internal modification.
Objectives
In this Project, you will investigate the principle of pulse-width modulation by writing a LabVIEW program to control the position of a servo motor. You will use the Vernier Digital Control Unit (DCU) to provide a square-wave signal. Your program should allow the user to vary the motor position from a front panel control for its full range of motion (approximately ±90°).
Sensors and Equipment
This project requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You will also need a SensorDAQ interface and LabVIEW software for data acquisition.
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
The preview does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book for classroom use.
Standards Correlations
No standards correlations for this experiment.
Experiment 7 from Engineering Projects with NI LabVIEW and Vernier Lab Book
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.