Controlling a Servo Motor Using TinkerCAD and Arduino

Introduction

Servo motors are widely used in robotics, automation, and various control systems due to their precise control over angular position. Unlike regular DC motors, servo motors allow you to set their angle, making them perfect for tasks that require accurate movement, such as robotic arms, camera gimbals, and even RC vehicles. In this tutorial, we will guide you through creating a simple servo motor control system using TinkerCAD and Arduino. This project is ideal for beginners who want to learn how to control servo motors and integrate them into larger projects.

Materials Needed

To build this project in TinkerCAD, you will need the following components:

• Arduino Uno

• Breadboard

• Servo Motor (SG90 or similar)

• Potentiometer (10kΩ)

• Jumper Wires

Step 1: Setting Up the Components

1. Arduino and Breadboard: Start by opening TinkerCAD and creating a new circuit project. Drag and drop an Arduino Uno and a breadboard onto the workspace.

2. Servo Motor: The servo motor has three wires:

   • Red (VCC): Connect to the 5V pin on the Arduino.

   • Brown or Black (GND): Connect to GND on the Arduino.

   • Orange or Yellow (Signal): Connect to digital pin 9 on the Arduino.

3. Potentiometer: The potentiometer will be used to control the angle of the servo motor. It has three pins:

   • Left Pin: Connect to the 5V pin on the Arduino.

   • Middle Pin: Connect to analog pin A0 on the Arduino.

   • Right Pin: Connect to GND on the Arduino.

Step 2: Wiring Diagram

Ensure your wiring looks like this:

• Servo Motor:

  • VCC (Red) → 5V on Arduino

  • GND (Black/Brown) → GND on Arduino

  • Signal (Orange/Yellow) → Digital Pin 9 on Arduino

• Potentiometer:

  • Left Pin → 5V on Arduino

  • Middle Pin → A0 on Arduino

  • Right Pin → GND on Arduino

Step 3: Writing the Code

With the circuit set up, let’s write the Arduino code to control the servo motor using the potentiometer.

#include <Servo.h>

Servo myServo;  // Create a Servo object to control the servo motor

int potPin = A0;  // Analog pin connected to the potentiometer

int val;  // Variable to store the value from the potentiometer

void setup() {

  myServo.attach(9);  // Attach the servo to pin 9

  Serial.begin(9600);  // Initialize serial communication for debugging

}

void loop() {

  val = analogRead(potPin);  // Read the value from the potentiometer

  val = map(val, 0, 1023, 0, 180);  // Map the potentiometer value to a range of 0 to 180 degrees

  myServo.write(val);  // Set the servo position according to the mapped value

  Serial.print("Potentiometer Value: ");

  Serial.print(val);

  Serial.println(" degrees");

  delay(15);  // Small delay to allow the servo to reach the position

}

Step 4: Simulating the Circuit

1. After entering the code, click the "Start Simulation" button in TinkerCAD.

2. Rotate the potentiometer using the slider in TinkerCAD. As you adjust the potentiometer, the servo motor will rotate to the corresponding angle between 0° and 180°.

3. You can monitor the potentiometer readings and corresponding servo positions in the Serial Monitor for real-time feedback.

Step 5: Understanding the Code

• Servo Library: The Servo.h library simplifies controlling servo motors with Arduino. It allows you to easily attach a servo to a specific pin and control its position.

• Mapping Values: The analogRead() function reads values from the potentiometer, ranging from 0 to 1023. The map() function is then used to convert this range to a corresponding angle between 0° and 180°, which is the range of the servo motor.

• Servo Control: The myServo.write(val) function sends the mapped angle to the servo motor, adjusting its position accordingly.

Step 6: Enhancing the System

This basic servo control system can be expanded with additional features:

• Multiple Servos: Control multiple servo motors by adding more potentiometers and modifying the code to handle additional servos.

• Remote Control: Integrate a wireless module (like an RF or Bluetooth module) to control the servo remotely.

• Automated Movements: Program the servo to move in predefined sequences, useful for creating robotic arms or animatronics.

Conclusion

You have successfully created a Servo Motor Control system using TinkerCAD and Arduino. This project provides a foundation for understanding how to control servo motors, which is essential for more advanced robotics and automation projects.

By following this guide, you’ve gained hands-on experience with using potentiometers to control servo motors. This knowledge can be applied to a variety of applications, making it a valuable skill in electronics and robotics.

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