Servo Systems Servo is mechanism based on feedback control. The controlled quantity is mechanical. Jussi Suomela HUT/Automation

Closed Loop Control Controller is the “Brain” Drive is the “Muscle” Your Partner In Productivity Controller is the “Brain” Drive is the “Muscle” Feedback Transducer is the “Eyes” Motion Command Input Mechanical Motion Output Drive or Amplifier Controller Feedback Transducer

Servo systems are “Closed Loop” in design Your Partner In Productivity control feedback Uses feedback for automatic correction High performance control Width of material must be very precisely controlled

Example - Closed Loop Control System Speed Feedback Movement Load Reducer Encoder Table Motor Power Ballscrew AC/DC Servo Amp IMC S Class Position Loop Velocity Loop 0 to ±10V DC

Servo Control of an Electrical Motor Three feedback lops servocontroller Jussi Suomela HUT/Automation

Properties of Servo Systems high maximum torque/force allows high (de)acceleration high zero speed torque/force high bandwidth provides accurate and fast control robustness Servo Systems are not servos Jussi Suomela HUT/Automation

How to design good Servo Systems? Terminology: Do not confuse “servos” with “servo motors” DC motors (brushed or brushless) are also sometimes also referred to as “servo motors” See: http://www.theproductfinder.com/motors/bruser.htm “So when does a motor become a servo motor? There are certain design criteria that are desired when building a servo motor, which enable the motor to more adequately handle the demands placed on a closed loop system. First of all, servo systems need to rapidly respond to changes in speed and position, which require high acceleration and deceleration rates. This calls for extremely high intermittent torque.

Intermittent Torque in Servos Torque is related to current in the brushed servo motor. So the designers need to keep in mind the ability of the motor to handle short bursts of very high current, which can be many times greater than the continuous current requirements. Another key characteristic of the brushed servo motor is a high ratio of torque to inertia. This ratio is an important factor in determining motor responsiveness. Further, servo motors need to respond to small changes in the control signal. So the design requires reaction to small voltage variations.

Hobby radio-controlled servos

Small Servos (servo-motors) for small robots Positioning applications:

Three-wire interface of standard servos

PWM control of Servos

Pulse length controls the angle of the shaft rotation Pulse between 0.6 ms and 2.0 ms

Speed Control PWM is not the same as the Servo PWM Single pulse width counterclockwise center clockwise

What to remember when you write software to control? Writing software, take into account mechanical constraints

“Winch servo” and how to convert from standard servo

Pneumatic & Hydraulic Actuators Large manipulators in industry frequently employ hydraulic drives, since such drives provide a higher torque-to-weight ratio than electric motors However, because of the maintenance problems associated with pressurized oil (including leaks), hydraulic motors are not used in smaller mobile robots Pneumatic drives have been used as actuators in the past but are not currently popular Air is compressible, resulting in nonlinear behavior of the actuator

Sources Braunl Jussi Suomela Jussi Suomela HUT/Automation