One Arduino multiple motors

Forum 2005-2010 (read only) Hardware Interfacing
1

Hi Guys,

I want to start a project where I would like to use arround 15 servo-motors. Now I would like to ask who has done similar and could give me some tips.

Can I accomplish this with multiplexers or what would be apropriate?

Thanks a lot!

2

something like this seems like it would greatly simplify your project

it takes the servo control away from the arduino, leaving you more processing time for whatever else you are doing.

3

Alternatively you could use the TLC9540 chip. It is meant for driving LEDs but I know some people are using it to drive servos. Look up this thread:-

Arduino Forum ? Software ? Development ? Library for TLC5940 16-channel PWM chip

4

Thanks for the help you two!

@weirdo557
does it with the SSC work (on a broad level) like the sketch i attached:

842×201 29.2 KB

Cheers!

5

Here's the original vendor (pololu) of the motor driver referenced above at sparkfun. They have a better selection that might fit your needs (Amperage, bi-directional, speed controlled, etc): Pololu - Brushed DC Motor Controllers

Here's another shop (no personal experience) that has a good selection: http://www.lynxmotion.com/Category.aspx?CategoryID=10

6

that diagram is wrong. the arduino doesnt send pwm values to the motor controller. what the arduino does is send serial transmissions to the controller with some header data, the servo number you want to update, and the position you want that servo to move to.

7

ok, if it needs serial communication, can't i just simply send serial data from processing using the serial library? And then use the USB Servo Controller Pololu USB 16-Servo Controller

Cheers!

8

I used a 4514 4-to-16 line decoder chip to expand a single timer to control 16 servos from my handyboard, no reason you can't use the exact same method on the arduino.

See http://hc11-ide.funkmunch.net/servomod.html for schematic and write-up.

Not sure how you'd hook this into the servo library, as I program my arduino with avr-gcc and avr-libc rather than using the IDE.

9

Might be a little overkill for your project, but Hitec do some servos with built in Serial communication. You can assign 128 different IDs to the servos and all can share a single data line. The Servos themselves are a little pricey compared to generic cheap servos, but compare well with Servos of comparable strength.

Just need to finish figuring out the code to talk too it.

Cynar