Robotic Eye

Projects General Guidance
1

EE knowledge is basic. The goal is to build a robot eye with a camera for motion tracking and artificial muscles for movement. Currently, we have an arduino controlling a stepper motor driving the camera. Object tracking is done using Visual C++ which sends data to arduino based on an objects location in space.

We would like to remove the stepper and integrate muscles for movement by varying the voltage supply using a dr. meter DC power supply. Any suggestions on how to change the voltage supply from the arduino? We purchased an ardumoto to connect to the arduino but it seems this only allows for control of direction and speed. Thank you!

2

artificial muscles

Are you talking about muscle wire (like Nitinol)? If not, a better description would help.

3

For controlling an electric heater you would typically use a PWM signal (analogWrite()) and a power MOSFET.

See: analogWrite() - Arduino Reference

4

The "speed" of the motor shield output will be the power it outputs. Direction will have no meaning for the muscle wire. A motor shield is a good choice for driving this kind of actuator, although it's overkill, it's not excessive. (You have 4 MOSFETs instead of just 1.)