Servo controller...

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I need to control a couple of servos using Atmel's AVR microcontroller.
Is there anything like a chip that could be controlled in a simple way
by the microcontroller and that would keep shooting pulses at servos by
itself? (for example when I want certain servo to change position, I
send some bits to the chip, servo repositions and microcontroller does
not have to take care any more)

I know I can build such pulse generator by myself, but I'd rather buy a
compact, tested and easy-to-use chip.

I'm more of a programmer then electric enthusiast. (:

--
Frank

Re: Servo controller...



Normally, you would just connect the servo data line to a port pin on the
AVR, and use the timer in the AVR to create the pulse width frames. But, if
you don't want to do that, you could get a serial servo controller and
connect it to the USARTs on the AVR.

Scott




Re: Servo controller...



wrote:


Parallax has a servo controller that runs 16 servos and takes input
from a serial port. (I assume the AVR has one) You can set position,
speed, and get read the servo position from the board. They're about
$40us.


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Jeff H........


Lies, All lies. Don't believe a word Difool/sayNO says.
He fears the truth!

Re: Servo controller...




Unless you really NEED to do it with an external chip, you can just connect
to the PWM out pins on the AVR.  They are essentially "Fire and Forget" in
that you set up the pulse width in a few registers then just write the
desired duty cycle to a register and the servo moves to that position.  No
fuss, no muss!  You do not have to write a bunch of ISRs or anything like
that.  However, since you said you were a software guy, you could use the
timer ISR to make your own PWM on any pin and control a whole bunch of
servos.  That is what most of the servo controllers that you can buy from
various robo-part vendors have.

--TE



Re: Servo controller...



On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 19:26:46 +0100, Franek


The below servo control chip is a good deal for $7.

http://www.kronosrobotics.com/xcart/customer/product.php?productid 273&cat)2&page=1

Re: Servo controller...



Franek wrote:


Kronos Robotics makes such a beast.

http://www.kronosrobotics.com/
--
D. Jay Newman
http://enerd.ws/robots/

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