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Subject: 
Re: r/c servos
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.robotics
Date: 
Fri, 20 Aug 1999 11:53:27 GMT
Original-From: 
John Barnes <barnes@sensors^StopSpammers^.com>
Viewed: 
821 times
  
If the pwm is really being controlled by an 8 bit counter, that might be fine
for the servos. The current rcx output has a cycle time of 8mS and uses 1mS
increments. If those are the top 3 bits, then the resolution is 5 bits worth
or 0.03mS. This would set the average servo, which needs a pulse from about
0.7 - 2.0 mS for 180 degress to one of about 45 steps or every 5 degrees. That
could be useful, but note that a geared down lego motor and the position
sensor
can do a lot better than that!


JB

I love the idea of controlling an R/C servo with the RCX, but I don't • think it
is possible with only software.  On the other hand, a relatively simple
circuit could be made to convert a duty cycle to a R/C servo signal.  Is
anyone out there interested in something like this?  If there is enough
interest I will take the time to draw up a circuit and post it somewhere. • Let
me know.

A few comments on the questions asked.

Since RC servos use pulse width as the input, there is already potential
here. Does any one, with a deeper knowledge of the insides of the RCX code
know if the squarewave duty cycle is being controlled by software or a
hardware based PWM?

I am almost positive that the PWM is done in hardware.  There are three • output
driver chips, seperate from the microcontroller.  The microcontroller sends
duty cycle commands to these chips, but  I believe the PWM frequency is fixed
by an RC network extenal to the driver chip.


In response to the question about RC servos, I noted, while probing
the signals on the I/O ports with a scope, that the motor power settings
result in varying duty cycle square waves from 1:7 through 7:1 and finally
full on as the parameter value sweeps 0 -7.

I believe these output controllers are also capable of much more than 3 bits
of resolution.  I just got my RIS and have not done much programming yet, but
I have been doing lots of research.  If you look at the documentation for
LegOS (an alternate firmware for the RCX, found at • http://www.noga.de/legOS/),
the motor speed can be set from 0 to 255.  That's 8 bits!  Does anyone else
have more experience with LegOS?


Zeke


--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics

--
Did you check the web site first?: http://www.crynwr.com/lego-robotics



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: r/c servos
 
(...) To get rid of the speculation here, the PWM is controlled by a programmable timer that the code in ROM configures to generate an interrupt every 1 ms. Output for each of 8 power levels is stored in a small table of waveforms, with the 1 ms (...) (25 years ago, 20-Aug-99, to lugnet.robotics)
  Re: r/c servos
 
(...) I can't understand this. Can you correct your grammar so it is clear what you're saying the average servo needs? - Robert Munafo (URL) LEGO: TC+++(8480) SW++ #+ S-- LS++ Hsp M+ A@ LM++ YB64m IC13 (25 years ago, 20-Aug-99, to lugnet.robotics)

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