A few questions about a Servo Controller IC and things

Lynxmotion
1

Hi guys, I just wanted to ask a few questions about a servo controller IC I found on the internet and I was wondering if you guys could just help clear up a few things.

So here’s a link to the datasheet in case anyone would like to have a look at the specification:
hobbytronics.co.uk/datasheets/slave_servo_pro_datasheet_v01.pdf

Ok, onto the questions. :mrgreen:

  1. How exactly would one control this IC? Am I right in assuming that the respective pins would be connected to a serial port and then controlled via that?

  2. If my assumption above is correct, then the serial port could be replaced with a bluetooth-serial module ‘thingy’ which would then allow for wireless control of the robot, correct?

  3. Would it be possible to write an app for a mobile phone to run allowing the mobile phone to act as a bluetooth remote control for the robot?

Thank you for your time guys! :smiley:

2

Hi,

This chip is controlled using I2C or sometimes called TWI (Two Wire Interface). You need to connect up two IO pins from your processor to the chip: SDA (data) and SCL (Clock). On Arduinos that are ATMega328 based these are typically on pins A4 and A5 and on the new Uno boards, they replicated these on new pins at the top near the AREF pin. On Arduinos you can use the Wire library to do the I2C/TWI support.

  1. Don’t know of any I2C to Bluetooth adapters, there are a few hits if I do an internet search, but… Much easier to add BT to SSC-32. Of course you could do something like add a micro-controller in between, where the BT connects to the serial port and the chip connects to the I2c and there is simple software that transfers your requests through…

  2. Yes, I have seen a few people use their phone/tablet to control a robot.

Kurt

3

So just to confirm, this IC can’t be controlled directly from a computer using a serial cable - I’ll have to get a microchip and then connect the servo controller up to that?

4

They are different interfaces… But there are some interfaces that I see up on the net like: acroname.com/robotics/parts/R286-USB-I2C.html
That add some form of I2c interface to a PC. There are others up there as well that are real expensive like $300. What the differences are???

Kurt

5

Ah cool I see now.
Thanks for the help! :mrgreen:

6

I decided that I’d attempt to make a serial-I2C adapter for the servo controller IC. :mrgreen:
Main reason being that for the mini-robot I’m working on, I only need 8 servos and I would like to use the Basic ATOM Pro One but after finding somewhere to buy it from, and adding the postage, etc. it ends up becoming rather expensive so I decided to give it a go. ^___^
The webpage below is what I’m using to work with:
gedanken.org.uk/electronics/rs232-converters/i2c.html

AKdaBAOUS