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Article: ROBOTICS WORKSHOP Running Robots with DC Motors.
- Article from:
- Poptronics
- Article date:
- July 1, 2000
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2000 Poptronix, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Direct current (DC) motors are the mainstays of robotics. A surprisingly small motor, when connected to wheels through a gear-reduction system, can power a 25-, 50-, or even a 100-pound robot. A flick of a switch, a click of a relay, or a tick of a transistor, and the motor stops m its tracks and turns the other way. A simple electronic circuit enables quick and easy control over speed-from a siow crawl to a fast sprint.
This column shows you how to apply open-loop continuous (as opposed to stepping or servo) DC motors to power your robots. The emphasis is on using motors to propel a robot across your living room floor, but you can use the same control techniques ...