Arduino Ethernet Microcontroller with Hitec HS-M7990TH servo motor

Help & Support Robot Parts
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Hi, I am new to microcontrollers and I’d like to verify some things so that I purchase the right product. My application is a pan/tilt unit custom designed to operate in a integrated system my company produces. Mechanically, the pan/tilt unit is more or less designed, so now I’m onto the communication and control aspect. The servo I am using is the Hitec HS-M7990TH due to its large holding torque. My requirement is an Ethernet based controller to control 2 servos over a computer GUI. My reasoning for Ethernet control is because I would like to network an array of these pan/tilt units and minimize the number of long cables which need to run back to a control room over a long distance. I’d like to assign them each a specific static IP so I can differentiate which is which from a control room. There is a USB based controller board (HPP-21) out there made by Hitec but there is no SDK or source code out there to modify and it’s USB, not Ethernet.

I found the Arduino Ethernet Microcontroller (RB-Ard-25) on the Robot Shop site and it looks to be what I’ve been searching for. The power requirements of the servo exceed that of the board so I am planning on using a separate power supply but the communication looks to be what I need. I have read a little about the Arduino coding that is out there and that is an option but I also found a LabView kit which is what I’d prefer to use. My question is, the description references using a separate USB to Serial converter to program the board, so what is the Ethernet connection specifically for? Can the board be operated over a network over Ethernet directly? Is the USB to serial converter used to do some basic programming functions like setting motor limits and speed, etc? I would like to have the pan/tilt unit plug in over an Ethernet connection and then be able to control the position over the 180 degrees and also save preset locations to move back to. I realize there is some custom work to be done in coding on my part, I just want to be sure this board is what I need. Do I need the USB to serial converter to complete my application?

Thank you for your help,
Steve

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The Arduino Ethernet is not preprogrammed with any servo controller software. It is basically the combination of the Arduino and the Ethernet shield. You can program the Arduino via the USB-to-serial interface to communicate via Ethernet and implement your own web interface.

Unfortunately, we carry no Ethernet hobby servo motor controllers.

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Thanks for the reply Carlos. So I would need the USB-Serial interface to open the channel of communication with the Ethernet port? My confusion is with the physical connections that need to be made when I’m operating the servos. Does the USB-Serial interface need to be connected to my host PC while I’m communicating via Ethernet or is it just to set the Ethernet communication up?