Fabian Winkler

Controlling motors with Arduino and Processing

Todays workshop illustrates how to control two different types of motors with the
Arduino board: DC motors and servo motors. Since we have started to work with firmata
and a Processing to Arduino link, this workshop will use simple user interfaces in
Processing to control motors connected to an Arduino board. We will use the Processing
controlP5 library to create a simple GUI (graphical user interface).
(1) Install the Processing controlP5 library
Download the library at http://www.sojamo.de/libraries/controlP5/ and follow the
installation instructions: http://www.sojamo.de/libraries/controlP5/#installation
Start writing your a simple processing sketch that uses 3 sliders to generate colors in
the RGB color system:
import controlP5.*;
ControlP5 controlP5;
int slider_RED = 200;
int slider_GREEN = 200;
int slider_BLUE = 200;
void setup() {
size(400,400);
controlP5 = new ControlP5(this);
controlP5.addSlider("slider_RED",0,255,slider_RED,20,10,255,20);
controlP5.addSlider("slider_GREEN",0,255,slider_GREEN,20,40,255,20);
controlP5.addSlider("slider_BLUE",0,255,slider_BLUE,20,70,255,20);
/*
Check controlP5's javadocs to learn more about the arguments of the
"addSlider" method: addSlider(java.lang.String theName, float theMin,
float theMax, float theDefaultValue, int theX, int theY, int theW, int
theH)
See: http://www.sojamo.de/libraries/controlP5/reference/index.html
You can get the slider's value directly by referencing its name.
*/
}
void draw() {
background(slider_RED, slider_GREEN, slider_BLUE);
}
Youll find many more examples on how to use this extremely powerful GUI library in
the examples folder of the controlP5 library folder. For today well just need a simple
slider that controls our motors.

Winkler, Arduino motor control, p. 1

(2) Connecting a servo motor to the Arduino

A servo motor is somewhat special in that it does not allow a continuous rotation of its
output shaft (for example like regular DC motors) rather it allows its output shaft to
move very quickly to very precise output angles (usually somewhere between 0 and 180
degrees). It needs a precisely pulsed input signal to do so. The Seattle Robotics Society
has a good and concise discussion of servo motors here:
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/guide/servos.html
This is their graphic illustrating the relationship between input pulse and output shaft
rotation angle:

Servos are usually very powerful motors because of a gearbox that translates power and
speed from the motor to the output shaft. With only minor modifications, a servo can be
hacked and used as an inexpensive continuous rotation gearbox motor. See the Seattle
Robotics Societys tutorial on how to do so:
http://www.seattlerobotics.org/guide/servohack.html
A good link for buying inexpensive DC gearbox motors (cheaper than modifying a servo)
is this: http://www.solarbotics.com/motors_accessories/gear_motors/
Pages 121-123 in Sullivan and Igoes book Physical Computing also has a more in
depth discussion of servo motors.
2a) Test your servo motor
Setup the servo and upload the code from the following example:
http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Sweep
Servo motor power requirements
In contrast to DC motors which have varying power requirements, a servo motor almost
always requires a voltage between 4.5 and 6VDC. If you power the servo from a power
supply of less than +5V, that you will need to put a 1kOhm resistor between the I/O line
and the servo's control line. If you plan to use the same power supply for the Arduino
and the servo, make sure that it can supply at 1000mA of current. Especially if you plan
to control more than one servo you will need an external power supply servos can be

Winkler, Arduino motor control, p. 2

quite power-demanding! If you are using two different power supplies, one for the
Arduino and one for the servo make sure to connect both grounds (GND) together.
Since the power supply most of you have for this class provides 9V @ 1000mA, we need
to find a way to convert the 9V into 5V to be able to power the servo, the 7805 voltage
regulator IC does exactly this.

Here is a Fritzing sketch that illustrates how you connect the servo to an Arduino board:

You could also use the Arduinos on-board voltage regulator and get the 5VDC power
for the servo from the Arduions 5V output. However, larger servos draw more current
and may overheat and damage the smaller on board voltage regulator.
2b) Processing to Servo
Now after setting up the Arduino circuit, lets control the servos rotation angle with a
slider in Processing. We will use firmata for the communication between Processing and
Arduino and have the servo library handle the servo control from the Arduino board. Just
upload the Servo firmata onto your Arduino board, in Arduino go to
File > Examples > Firmata > Servo Firmata

Winkler, Arduino motor control, p. 3

And upload the code to your board.

In Processing type in the following:
import processing.serial.*;
import cc.arduino.*;
import controlP5.*;
ControlP5 controlP5;
Arduino arduino;
int servoAngle = 90;
void setup() {
size(400,400);
println(Arduino.list());
arduino = new Arduino(this, Arduino.list()[0], 57600);
for (int i = 0; i <= 13; i++)
arduino.pinMode(i, Arduino.OUTPUT);
controlP5 = new ControlP5(this);
controlP5.addSlider("servoAngle",0,180,servoAngle,20,10,180,20);
}
void draw() {
arduino.analogWrite(9, servoAngle);
//delay(15);
}
If you are not interested in using Processing to control the movements of your servo but
would like to control the servo using only the Arduino and electronic circuitry, this
example might be interesting, using the Arduino servo library:
http://arduino.cc/en/Tutorial/Knob and http://arduino.cc/en/Reference/Servo
(3) DC motor control - simple
Regular DC motors are controlled differently than servo motors, for very simple DC
motor control use a power transistor, such as the TIP120 controlled by one of the
Arduinos PWM pins. Since DC motors draw a considerable amount of power they cant
be powered directly by the Arduino PWM pin. In many cases it is also a good idea to use
an external power supply with the Arduino that provides the necessary voltage and
current for the motor. This example shows a simple way of controlling a DC motor
which only allows you to change the motor speed not the direction in which the motor is
turning (forward/backward).
This is what the circuit setup looks like:

Winkler, Arduino motor control, p. 4

On the breadboard this would translate into something like this:

With this setup make sure your Arduino board is powered with the external power
supply!
Arduino code for this project: upload the SimpleAnalogFirmata example File >
Examples > Firmata > SimpleAnalogFirmata
Processing code
(allows you to control the speed of the motor with a GUI slider):
import processing.serial.*;
import cc.arduino.*;
import controlP5.*;
ControlP5 controlP5;
Arduino arduino;

Winkler, Arduino motor control, p. 5

int DC_speed = 150; // 0-255

void setup() {
size(400,400);
println(Arduino.list());
arduino = new Arduino(this, Arduino.list()[0], 57600);
for (int i = 0; i <= 13; i++)
arduino.pinMode(i, Arduino.OUTPUT);
controlP5 = new ControlP5(this);
controlP5.addSlider("DC_speed",0,255,DC_speed,20,10,255,20);
}
void draw() {
arduino.analogWrite(9, DC_speed);
}
(4) DC motor control SN754410
This is a slightly more complicated way to control a motor, however it allows you to
change the direction of the motor as well as the motor speed. The SN754410 is a handy
IC that allows you to control the speed and direction of a DC motor with only one PWM
output and two digital outputs from your Arduino board

Please read pp.255 -260 in OSullivan and Igoes book Physical Computing for more
details on how to use the SN754410 motor driver IC with a microcontroller. Here is a
circuit diagram for how to interface the SN754410 with the Arduino board:

Winkler, Arduino motor control, p. 6

And here is a picture what this should look like on your breadboard:

Winkler, Arduino motor control, p. 7

Processing code (make sure you have the standard firmata code uploaded onto your
Arduino board):
import processing.serial.*;
import cc.arduino.*;
import controlP5.*;
ControlP5 controlP5;
Arduino arduino;
int DC_speed = 150; // 0-255
int direction = 1; // 0: backward, 1: forward
void setup() {
size(400,400);
println(Arduino.list());
arduino = new Arduino(this, Arduino.list()[0], 57600);
for (int i = 0; i <= 13; i++)
arduino.pinMode(i, Arduino.OUTPUT);
// pin3: PWM, pin 6: 1A, pin 7: 2A (see SN754410 datasheet)
controlP5 = new ControlP5(this);
controlP5.addSlider("DC_speed",0,255,DC_speed,20,10,255,20);
Radio r = controlP5.addRadio("radio",20,50);
//r.deactivateAll();
// use deactiveAll to NOT make the first radio button active.
r.add("forward",0);
r.add("backward",1);
}
void draw() {
arduino.analogWrite(3, DC_speed);
if (direction == 1) { // run in one direction, i.e. forward
arduino.digitalWrite(6, 1);
arduino.digitalWrite(7, 0);
}
else { // run in the opposite direction, i.e. backward
arduino.digitalWrite(6, 0);
arduino.digitalWrite(7, 1);
}
}
void radio(int theID) {
switch(theID) {
case(0):
direction = 1; // forward
break;
case(1):
direction = 0; // backward
break;

Winkler, Arduino motor control, p. 8

}
}
If you are interested in the kinetic and mechanic aspects of motor output, please read
pp.271-283 Basic Mechanics in OSullivan and Igoes book Physical Computing.
LEGO technic pieces are also a great way to experiment with kinetic systems and
Arduino-controlled motors. Look at these nice tutorials for a start:
http://www.clear.rice.edu/elec201/Book/legos.html
http://sariel.pl/2009/09/gears-tutorial/
http://neuron.eng.wayne.edu/LEGO.../lego_building_tutorial.pdf
You can buy inexpensive used LEGO pieces here:
http://www.bricklink.com/
Look specifically for gears and LEGO technic bricks (the ones with the holes). Also good
are the LEGO 9V motors (part#2838c01) its safe to buy them right away if you find
them in good working condition for around $5.00.

Winkler, Arduino motor control, p. 9