Posts Tagged ‘ servo ’

First steps with the Adafruit Trinket

I recently picked up a Adafruit Trinket (3.3v), simply because they’re so cheap (about $8).  I like the idea of a tiny small Arduino-ish board.  Since I’m forgetful, below documents the overall process I got to get it working.

End result: Franken-servo!

End result: Franken-servo!

Resource Links:

First Steps:

For all the documentation on the web, I really wasn’t sure where to start.  There’s all this talk of installing AVRDUDE, etc, but as it turns out it’s really not needed (if using the Arduino IDE). Here’s the streamline approach I finally took:

  • Setup my pre-existing Arduino IDE for use with the Trinket, following these Adafruit docs.
  • Since I’m on a Mac, I didn’t have to worry about installing any drivers, but the “Mac Arduino IDE” app download they provided didn’t work.  Mac said it was “corrupted”.  So instead I had to use the “Slow Way” example they gave.  And other than a few path differences it worked just fine.

Programming:

  • I was able to successfully run all their examples from the page “Programming with Arduino IDE“.
  • Earlier in the day I had done some servo programming on an Arduino, and I wanted to emulate it on the Trinket.  Thanks to the “Trinket Servo Control” tutorial, and their “Adafruit SoftServo” library, I was able to make it happen.  However, I was unable to create two separate servo objects:  I think I don’t quite grasp the Trinket pinouts.  The above image has two servo’s hooked up to the same pin, so they move the exact same way.

So a successfully first attempt.  Next up, I really need some batteries to make a standalone project with it…

2014
03/01
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Electronics
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Ponar

While at the last Maker Faire, I picked up a 4wd robot kit.

My thought is to hook an ultrasonic sensor to it, to do some simple obstacle avoidance.  Since I’ve never worked with any of these components before (servo’s, ultrasonic sensors, motor-drivers, etc), I want to break down each step so I can really grasp how this stuff works.

I was looking at my bucket of parts and it dawned on me:  I have a servo, I have a Ping))) sensor, a spare Arduino Uno, a bunch of Erector Set parts, and knowledge of Processing programming:  I could (should!) make a simple sonar system.  So the “Ponar” was born:  Ping))) + Arduino + Servo + Processing = Ponar.

How it works:

The Arduino program sweeps the servo back and forth over a 90deg arc.  At each degree, the Ping))) sensor returns back a distance reading.  The degrees and distance values are passed over the serial port to the PC, where the Processing application turns them into a ‘traditional looking’ (in my head at least) sonar read-out.

See it in action:

Want to make one too?  Here’s the steps I went through:

Parts List:

Software List:

Hardware setup:

  • Assemble the servo, bracket, ping, and erector set into a pleasing arrangement.
  • Connect the Arduino’s 5v and ground pins to the mini beadboard with the jumpers.
  • Use jumpers to connect the Vin of the Ping))) and the servo to the Arduino powered row on the mini breadboard.
  • Use jumpers to connect the ground of the Ping))) and the servo to the Arduino grounded row on the mini breadboard.
  • Use a jumper to connect the signal line of the Ping))) to the Arduino’s digital pin 7.
  • Use a jumper to connect the signal line of the servo to the Arduino’s digital pin 9.
  • Connect the Arduino to the PC with the usb cable.
  • Upload the Arduino sketch to the Arduino:  It should start sweeping left and right.
  • Run the Processing sketch:  It should sample the serial stream being passed from the Arduino, and display the sonar view on-screen.

For a couple days work, it was really informative, and actually pretty fun.

Ponar sees beer

 

2011
08/09
CATEGORY
CG
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