Why Servo motor is called as 'Servo' motor ?

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) General Frequently-Asked Questions
1

Hello guys,

I was wondering why servos are called so ?

Any answers ? :slight_smile:

2

From the same root as "cerveau", the French for brain?

[edit]A quick Google suggests to me it derives from a Latin root, meaning one who serves/maintains, I guess meaning one who maintains (a position) in place of the controlling function.[/edit]

3

No technical reasons !!

4

Well, a servomechanism maintains some controlled parameter, like angular position in the case of an R/C servo, once commanded.
"Servo" is just a diminutive of "servomechanism".

5

From Latin, servus = slave, so a servo motor is a slaved motor, ie controlled operation as opposed to free running.

6

Okay... I got something from you guys... Thank You...

Any more from others..

7

Main Entry: ser·vo·mo·tor
Pronunciation: [ch712]s[ch601]r-v[ch333]-[ch716]m[ch333]-t[ch601]r
Function: noun
Etymology: French servo-moteur, from Latin servus slave, servant + French -o- + moteur motor, from Latin motor one that moves — more at motor
Date: 1889

: a power-driven mechanism that supplements a primary control operated by a comparatively feeble force (as in a servomechanism)

8

Servo is the latin for "I serve", simple as that. Just like video means "I see". Its just accident of history that in mechanics we say controller & servo and in software we say master & slave.

9

@MarkT
And a California lawsuit shows that it's not a bad idea to use Latin instead of English :wink: