Is it possible to control the speed of the motors on the below smart car using "just" a PWM motor speed control that includes a potentiometer and "not" using an Arduino board? I just need the car to move in a generally forward direction at a slow speed. If this can be done could someone share a link to a tutorial?
Thank you in advance for any help,
yeto
Yes and no...
The motor doesn't "know" where the PWM is coming from, so yes you can control a DC motor if you can get PWM and no microcontroller.
However, there are some encoders (or at least encoder wheels) so the microcontroller can tell how fast and how far the motor has moved. Without the feedback the motors won't run at the same speed and it won't go straight.
...I don't see detailed specs, or schematic/wiring diagram, or example code so it looks like you're on your own getting that thing to work. In fact, don't see a complete encoder, just two encoder wheels.
yeto:
using "just" a PWM motor speed control that includes a potentiometer and "not" using an Arduino board?
You will need some device to detect the position of the potentiometer and then to generate the appropriate PWM signal. I can't think of a simpler way to do than with an Arduino of some sort.
I guess you could do it using a 555 timer IC but to my mind it would be a lot more trouble even if the parts are cheaper.
...R
A 555 astable can do but a 555 can only easily do 50-100% duty cycle.