pushbuttons to control servo position

Projects Programming
1

Hi everybody,

I'm a newbie in Arduino programming and I'm trying to do my first project.

I tried to control servo with potentiometer and RF 433Mhz, but I had problem with timer between Virtualwire and Servo Librairies... So I decided to start from scratch with pushbuttons.

So, I wrote this:

#include <Servo.h>

Servo myservo; // create servo object to control a servo

const int leftpin = 2; // pin 2 used to connect the left pushbutton
const int rightpin = 3; // pin 3 used to connect the right pushbutton
const int centerpin = 4; // pin 4 used to connect the center pushbutton
int varl; // variable to read the value from the left pin
int varr; // variable to read the value from the right pin
int varc; // variable to read the value from the center pin

void setup()
{
myservo.attach(9); // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object
pinMode(leftpin, INPUT); // initialize the left pushbutton
pinMode(rightpin, INPUT); // initialize the right pushbutton
pinMode(centerpin, INPUT); // initialize the center pushbutton
}

void loop()
{
varl = digitalRead(leftpin); // reads the value of the leftpin
varr = digitalRead(rightpin); // reads the value of the rightpin
varc = digitalRead(centerpin); // reads the value of the centerpin
if (varl == HIGH) {
myservo.write(180); // sets the servo left position
delay(2000);// waits for the servo to get there
}
else if (varr == HIGH) {
myservo.write(0); // sets the servo right position
delay(2000);// waits for the servo to get there
}
else if (varc == HIGH) {
myservo.write(90); // sets the servo center position
delay(1000);// waits for the servo to get there
}
else {
}
}

.

Now I'm trying to stop servo in position to have this
1- push left button => servo goes left slowly (2 second to reach position)
2- stop pushing button after 1 sec => servo stop in position (if it start from 90 deg. to reach 180 deg. in 2 seconds, it should stop around 135 deg. after 1 sec.)

But I'm stuck here. I can't find how to do this...

Do you have idea?

Thanks

2

But I'm stuck here. I can't find how to do this...

If the button is pressed move the servo a little, if not don't move the servo. Get rid of the delay()s and use millis() instead. Look at Several things at the same time for examples.

3

Or, keep the delay, but if the switch is pressed, move the servo one degree, delay() a little but (not two seconds), then end loop(). Next time around, repeat the process. All that is needed is a global variable to hold the position of the servo, incremented or decremented when the left and/or right switches are pressed.

4

Thank you both for these tips!

I'll probably try the two solutions and tell you who is the wisest of you ! :slight_smile:

thank you guys!

5

Using millis() is a good technique to use in general but small delay()s will work for your simple requirements.

6

Some servo code from another discussion that might be close.

#include <Servo.h>

Servo myservo;  // create servo object to control a servo

const int leftpin = 2;        // pin 2 used to connect the left pushbutton
const int rightpin = 3;       // pin 3 used to connect the right pushbutton
const int centerpin = 4;      // pin 4 used to connect the center pushbutton
int varl;                     // variable to read the value from the left pin
int varr;                     // variable to read the value from the right pin
int varc;                     // variable to read the value from the center pin

void setup()
{
  myservo.attach(9);  // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object
  pinMode(leftpin, INPUT);    // initialize the left pushbutton
  pinMode(rightpin, INPUT);   // initialize the right pushbutton
  pinMode(centerpin, INPUT);   // initialize the center pushbutton
}

void loop()
{
varl = digitalRead(leftpin);    // reads the value of the leftpin
varr = digitalRead(rightpin);    // reads the value of the rightpin
varc = digitalRead(centerpin);    // reads the value of the centerpin
if (varl == HIGH) { 
  myservo.write(180);                  // sets the servo left position
  delay(2000);// waits for the servo to get there
  }
  else if  (varr == HIGH) { 
  myservo.write(0);                  // sets the servo right position
  delay(2000);// waits for the servo to get there
  }
    else if  (varc == HIGH) { 
  myservo.write(90);                  // sets the servo center position
  delay(1000);// waits for the servo to get there
  }
  else {
    }
}