How to Make a Robot - Lesson 5: Choosing a Motor Controller

Let's Make Robots Tutorials
21

UIROBOT integrated stepper motor with motion controller will be a good choice for your robotics.

22

You are indeed right. Encoder inputs and the possibility to implement PID control systems id definitely an important factor when choosing a motor controller. Nevertheless, it was left out of the tutorial since it is a fairly advanced feature and might confuse beginners who will most likely not use it.

It is also important to note that for small scale robots that do not move too fast, it is possible to read the encoders by using the main robot microcontroller. Since the robot is not doing much processing, taking also care of control algorithms and encoder readings is certainly a possibility.

Rest assured that encoders will be covered in the upcoming tutorial about sensors.

Thanks for the feedback!

23

Good article, but you left out a very significant bit : feedback/rotary encoders.

If your DC motor controller does not accept encoder input, thats a significant factor.

24

Greetings to all, can you help me with something?
I would like to build some FPV 4wd platform size 25 x 30 cm (without wheels), with 150 mm diameter wheels, which top speed would be around 8km/h.
I am thinking to use four motors: PGHM-01 or RB-Pol-81
is it possible to connect each side motors parallel together and use this controler: RB-Dim-23 or RB-Bat-23

for controling platform I will use rc transmitter

25

The robot I am constructing will have two 12V motors. Is there a recommended motor controller I should use on this?

26

@mja You need to know the motor’s specs - not just its voltage. Take a look at the article and the example below.

27

Coleman,

This article is very helpful however I am new to all of this. I need a small Motor Controller that will hook up to this motor http://www.mabuchi-motor.co.jp/cgi-bin/catalog/e_catalog.cgi?CAT_ID=re_260ra would you suggest the RB-Pol-16?

Thanks!

Colin

28

@Colin The motor in your link operates at 3V nominal, and most DC motor controllers start at 6V. RB-Pol-16 is one of a small few which can go down to 3V and would be a good choice.

29

I am making a robot arm that can lift at least 10 lbs. What kind of moter should be recomended (im wanting 6 joints) I also want to know what kind of microcontrol and motor controller i would need

30

@Coleman,

Thanks! do you have any other manufacturer recommendations? i know that might be weird on this site… hahaha

  • Colin
31

@Brandon We understand you want to lift 10 pounds, but at what distance from the base? We would suggest going straight to using DC linear actuators: https://www.robotshop.com/en/actuators.html

32

@Colin Recommendations for… a UAV in general of just the flight controller?

33

Maybe about 1 foot

34

@Brandon so you want to have six degrees of freedom but the gripper will only be 12" from the base? Take a look at this tool to get an idea of the torque required at each joint: https://www.robotshop.com/blog/en/robot-arm-torque-calculator-9712

35

I want make a four wheeled robot can you please tell me what motor should I use and tell me what is control method

36

@Pranav The following tool will give you an idea of the motor specs you need: https://www.robotshop.com/blog/en/drive-motor-sizing-tool-9698
The “control method” is whatever you want: RC, Bluetooth, WiFi, Infrared etc. You would choose the motor controller which suits the motor you choose, as well as the control method.

37

hello there im looking to find a way to do some sort of voltage divider or spliting a connection so that i can use a 2 wire dc motor with the ssc32 which has 3 pins and we know that pwr gnd & sig are those 3 and are used for servo which has the same plugs, but this is more a question of electricity and what is happening at a voltage level and i feel that if i connect dc pwr to sig on ssc32 and gnd to gnd i should be able to get a pulse width that the dc can use to actuate, Correct? and if not i should be able to do some sort of wire splicing to get pwr to pwr and gnd to gnd and run another solder wire from dc pwr to ssc32’s sig in conjunction of a passive component such as a resistor or a diode ? my project uses all dc motors and pots as well so is more of a diy servo minus the gears

38

cool method can u send me the methods accurately

39

@Jai Lopez You need a DC motor controller which accepts R/C input signals: https://www.robotshop.com/en/rc-motor-controllers.html

40

I can’t seem to find the Pololu dual motor controller (the one you choose in the lesson) in the store. Is there something else that would work