How to build your first Robot ($ 85)

Step 3 Buy the materials (Servo Upgrade Pack)

1 PICAXE Servo Upgrade Pack
-An easy way to get a servo topped with some small parts needed for this project.

You can also get any standard servo, the pins shown on the image, and a single 330 Ohm resistor instead of the yellow chip, if you should wish.

Price: 15 USD
Get the full package here

What is a Servo?
A Servo is a cornerstone in most robotic appliances. To put it short it is a little box with wires to it, and an axle that can turn some 200 degrees. on this axle you can mount a disc or some other peripheral that comes with the servo.

The 3 wires are: 2 for power, and one for signal.

The signal-wire goes to something that controls a servo, in this case that is the microcontroller.

Result is that the microcontroller can decide to where the axle should turn, and this is pretty handy; You can program something to physically move to a certain position.

Comments

[ub3rFrank]

Does anyone know where I can get some of those pins? Is there another name for them besides just 'pins' ? Thanks

[jacquelbot]

I've usually heard (in the US), those pins called "100 mil pitch headers" or "breakaway headers". The "100 mil pitch" part means that the pins are spaced 0.100" (2.54mm) apart (this is critical, trying to make the wrong sized header work is a huge pain). They're also called "breakaway headers" because you can easily cut the strip apart to get just the number of pins you need in a row. Digikey is once source, here's an example part number (they've got more, from different manufacturers and at different lengths): S1032E-16-ND

If you can find them at a local electronics store they're probably cheaper, but double check the pitch! (Can you tell I recently got burned on that one?)

[acidblue]

What kind of 330 Ohm resistor should i get? 1w, 1/2w or 1/4w? or does it matter? Going with a standard servo and the 330 Ohm resistor since it's cheaper. Sorry if this is a stupid question, just want to make sure I get the right one.

[fritsl]

Any of the 330 Ohm resistor will do. It does not to be very accurate, and that is the differences; How accurate they are :)

[jacquelbot]

Whoops, the difference between 1W, 1/2W & 1/4W is *not* accuracy, it's how much power they can take. If you're attaching the resistor to a pin of your microcontroller it probably doesn't matter, because the microcontroller can't source enough power to burn up a resistor, but other times it might matter a lot! This website has a nice discussion of power dissipation in resistors, including an experiment! http://www.allaboutcircuits.com/vol_6/chpt_2/7.html

[Jinnarin]

If you are in the US and looking for the yellow chip, I believe this isthe right one: www.alliedelec.com/search/productdetail.aspx

[area36]

Does anyone know where to find those pins?

[dragonis]

Do you need just one 330 Ohm resistor or 8 of them as a substitute for the yellow chip. Thanks

[fritsl]

Yes. One pr servo.

[Elliot says]

Can I use any servo?

[Elliot says]

can i use a simple servo

[laconic]

Hello, I'm been looking around I can't seem to find this "package" anywhere in the USA or Canada, could anyone help? If not could I get the names of each component in the package and I can just buy them separate, thanks in advance

[fritsl]

http://letsmakerobots.com/node/213

[H-Bot]

Hey fritsl do you think that if I mounted two leds on the IR sensor that it would be able to avoid objects during the night?

[fritsl]

That is a joke, right? :) If not; The IR sensor is emitting light. Infra Red light. If anything, adding ekstra LED's would only make it less effective, but in reality it would not make any difference - the robot works just as fine at day and night :)

[mabright99]

How much do 330 ohm resistors cost?

[fritsl]

"nothing" :)

[dragonis]

Can you just use a standard 180 degree angle servo and a 330 Ohm resistor instead of this whole pack upgrade. What's the third thing? Just want to be clear.

[fritsl]

Yes you can. "The third thing" is some little pins. You can get them for a dime at your local electronics-store.. or just use a piece of hard wire :)

[Andruha1123]

stupid question: whats a SERVO, and what does it exactly do?

[cool!]

A servo is usually used to control a control surface on a RC plane, or to steer in a RC car. In robotics, They are used to move sensors, etc... Basically, a little motor in a gearbox.

[fritsl]

A Servo is a cornerstone in most robotic appliances. To put it short it is a little box with wires to it, and an axle that can turn some 200 degrees. The wires are: 2 for power, and one for signal. The signal-wire goes to something that controls a servo, in this case that is the microcontroller. Result is that the microcontroller can decide to where the axle should turn, and this is pretty handy; You can program something to physically move to a certain position. Thanks for asking, I will optimize my walkt hrough on this point.

[Bongmaster]

servos are what is used in radio control cars and planes. they are what move the throttle (on a glow plug engine), flaps and steering.