18 servo controller

[Nigel Goodwin]

I mean 5V on the servo input signal from the PIC, with 6V to the servo power.

Yes I know, it will be fine!.

 

[Ambient]

Thanks Nigel. Looks like I have quite a few options then. I may just use a 5 cell NiMH 3300 GP pack, but was hoping to use a single large LiPo. But I can't seem to find an inexpensive DC-DC boost converter that would supply enough current. I figure with 6 legs at 3 servos each, there should be around 9 servos running at once. Stall current for these servos is 1.2-1.5A, + 3A for PIC, misc. So that comes out to around 16.5A @ 5V (or 6Vif I can find one). I will keep looking. For now I should probably just use a 5-cell and a modular design so I can change the PS later.

 

[Ambient]

maybe I could use one of these things for object avoidance? It would be pretty interesting, but I don't know if a proximity detector will work properly in close proximity to 18 servos, since they have motors and are changing their position. Maybe put two detectors on shielded antennae?
https://www.newark.com/jsp/Semiconductors+&+Prototyping/Analog+&+Mixed+Signal+ICs/FREESCALE+SEMICONDUCTOR/MC34940EG/displayProduct.jsp?sku=81K2770

 

[yanny_boy]

Hi,

I know this has 2 different servo controllers in one thread... but I am trying to make a servo controller using an 18f4550 and this first 2 pages seem exactly what I want, is there a recommended schematic/pcb as I am new to pics and am not sure what resistors and capacitors I need where to make the clock and usart happy....

any help would be great.

thanks.

 

[threewire]

This is untested right now, but it should allow simple USART RX source at any baudrate (maybe 115K should be the upper limit). The only stipulation is that the PC starts communication after the PIC has been started.

It's written presently in mikroBasic and will compile with the free version:

program SERVO30_USART

'**********************************************************************
'******                                                          ******
'******    30 Servo Driver @ 256 Positions using P18 @ 40MHz     ******
'******            by W. Schroeder on July 22, 2006              ******
'******                                                          ******
'******   REVISED on Sept 19, 2006..added USART & code tweaks    ******
'******   Compiled with mikroBASIC 5.0.0.1 & Tested on 18F452    ******
'******                                                          ******
'******   REVISED on Dec 5, 2007.. added USART for any Baud      ******
'******   Compiled with mikroBASIC 6.0 & Tested on 18F452        ******
'******                                                          ******
'******      Servo routines use only ~2.5ms of 20ms cycle        ******
'******      USART at any baudrate to change servo values        ******
'******                                                          ******
'**********************************************************************
'       These are the port pin assignments for the servo array:
'            servo[0]- PORTA.0
'            servo[1]- PORTA.1
'            servo[2]- PORTA.2
'            servo[3]- PORTA.3
'            servo[4]- PORTA.5
'            servo[5]- PORTB.0
'            servo[6]- PORTB.1
'            servo[7]- PORTB.2
'            servo[8]- PORTB.3
'            servo[9]- PORTB.4
'            servo[10]-PORTB.5
'            servo[11]-PORTB.6
'            servo[12]-PORTB.7
'            servo[13]-PORTC.0
'            servo[14]-PORTC.1
'            servo[15]-PORTC.2
'            servo[16]-PORTC.3
'            servo[17]-PORTC.4
'            servo[18]-PORTC.5
'            servo[19]-PORTD.0
'            servo[20]-PORTD.1
'            servo[21]-PORTD.2
'            servo[22]-PORTD.3
'            servo[23]-PORTD.4
'            servo[24]-PORTD.5
'            servo[25]-PORTD.6
'            servo[26]-PORTD.7
'            servo[27]-PORTE.0
'            servo[28]-PORTE.1
'            servo[29]-PORTE.2
'********************************************************************

const T1_20ms as word = 65536-50000+6      ' 20ms + stop timer1 stop compensation
dim pos as byte
dim servo as byte[30]
dim servobuffer as byte[30]
dim lastservobufaddr as word
dim T1 As word absolute $FCE

sub procedure interrupt
    LATA = 63                              ' turn on all servos on PortA
    LATB = 255                             ' turn on all servos on PortB
    LATC = 63                              ' turn on all servos on PORTC
    LATD = 255                             ' turn on all servos on PortD
    LATE = 7                               ' turn on all servos on PORTE
    pos = 0                                ' 256 counts.. rollover to original value
    delay_us(500)                          ' 0 position delay; adjust to suit needs
          ASM                              ' VERY efficient PWM masking routine
             movlw     0
             decfsz    _servo+0, 1,0
             iorlw     1
             decfsz    _servo+1, 1,0
             iorlw     2
             decfsz    _servo+2, 1,0
             iorlw     4
             decfsz    _servo+3, 1,0
             iorlw     8
             decfsz    _servo+4, 1,0
             iorlw     32
             andwf     LATA, 1,0
             movlw     0
             decfsz    _servo+5, 1,0
             iorlw     1
             decfsz    _servo+6, 1,0
             iorlw     2
             decfsz    _servo+7, 1,0
             iorlw     4
             decfsz    _servo+8, 1,0
             iorlw     8
             decfsz    _servo+9, 1,0
             iorlw     16
             decfsz    _servo+10, 1,0
             iorlw     32
             decfsz    _servo+11, 1,0
             iorlw     64
             decfsz    _servo+12, 1,0
             iorlw     128
             andwf     LATB, 1,0
             movlw     0
             decfsz    _servo+13, 1,0
             iorlw     1
             decfsz    _servo+14, 1,0
             iorlw     2
             decfsz    _servo+15, 1,0
             iorlw     4
             decfsz    _servo+16, 1,0
             iorlw     8
             decfsz    _servo+17, 1,0
             iorlw     16
             decfsz    _servo+18, 1,0
             iorlw     32
             andwf     LATC, 1,0
             movlw     0
             decfsz    _servo+19, 1,0
             iorlw     1
             decfsz    _servo+20, 1,0
             iorlw     2
             decfsz    _servo+21, 1,0
             iorlw     4
             decfsz    _servo+22, 1,0
             iorlw     8
             decfsz    _servo+23, 1,0
             iorlw     16
             decfsz    _servo+24, 1,0
             iorlw     32
             decfsz    _servo+25, 1,0
             iorlw     64
             decfsz    _servo+26, 1,0
             iorlw     128
             andwf     LATD, 1,0
             movlw     0
             decfsz    _servo+27, 1,0
             iorlw     1
             decfsz    _servo+28, 1,0
             iorlw     2
             decfsz    _servo+29, 1,0
             iorlw     4
             andwf     LATE, 1,0
             nop
             btfsc     PIR1, 5,0           ' check USART RX buffer
             movff     RCREG, POSTINC2     ' move RX byte into servobuffer
             nop
             incfsz    _pos, 1,0
             bra       $-76                ' loop total of 20224 cycles = 2.02ms
          END ASM
    T1CON.TMR1ON = 0                       ' stop timer1
    T1 = T1 + T1_20ms                      ' reload timer1
    T1CON.TMR1ON = 1                       ' restart timer1
    PIR1.TMR1IF = 0                        ' clear interrupt flag
end sub

sub procedure _init
   LATA = 0
   LATB = 0
   LATC = 0
   LATD = 0
   LATE = 0
   TRISA = 0
   TRISB = 0
   TRISC = 0
   TRISD = 0
   TRISE = 0
   ADCON1 = 7                              ' disable ADC's
   lastservobufaddr = @servobuffer + 30
   INTCON = 192                            ' enable GIE & PEIE
   T1CON = 32                              ' prescaler=4, timer off
   T1 = 0                                  ' load Timer1
   PIE1.TMR1IE = 1                         ' enable Timer1 Interrupt
   PIR1.TMR1IF = 0                         ' clear Timer1 Interrupt Flag
   T1CON.TMR1ON = 1                        ' start Timer1
end sub

main:
  _init
  USART_Init(115200)                       ' any baudrate is permissible
  FSR0ptr = @servo
  While FSR0ptr < (@servo + 30)            ' initialize all servo values to 0 position
     POSTINC0 = 1
  Wend
  FSR2ptr = @servobuffer
  While true

     While FSR2ptr < lastservobufaddr      ' FSR2 is RX servobuffer
        Do
        Loop Until PIR1.RCIF = 1           ' wait for new RX byte
        POSTINC2 = RCREG                   ' load RX byte.. when 30 bytes move on
     Wend
     FSR2ptr = @servobuffer                ' reset RX buffer
     FSR1ptr = @servobuffer                ' setup tranfer of RX array to
     FSR0ptr = @servo                      ' servo work array
     While FSR1ptr < lastservobufaddr
        POSTINC0 = inc(POSTINC1)           ' transfer RX buffer to work values.. add 1
     Wend
     
  Wend
end.

Tried to compile the above code but I get the following errors:

error: 173	303	Identifier "USART_Init" was not declared	SERVO30.mbas
error: 173	304	Syntax error: Expected "end" but "USART_Init" found	SERVO30.mbas
error: 173	304	Syntax error: Expected "." but "(" found	SERVO30.mbas
error: 0	102	Finished (with errors): 02 Mar 2010, 15:05:12	SERVO30.mbppi

 

[Acetronics]

Hi, 3W

It seems you try to compile a MikroBasic file with the MikroBasic PRO compiler ...

You have to IMPORT ( IDE function that translates automatically the project ) the full project before asking for compilation ...

May be some lines to modify by hand ... but compiler will show the lines to be modded.

Used libraries also must be hand choosen ( not automatic ... eh ! )

Alain

 

[threewire]

Hi, 3W

It seems you try to compile a MikroBasic file with the MikroBasic PRO compiler ...

You have to IMPORT ( IDE function that translates automatically the project ) the full project before asking for compilation ...

May be some lines to modify by hand ... but compiler will show the lines to be modded.

Used libraries also must be hand choosen ( not automatic ... eh ! )

Alain

In Mikro C the code compiled fine.But,
1)What is the format of the string that is to be sent to the PIC and
2)What should the config bits be?
3)How should I give the PIC 40 Mhz (will a 40 Mhz crystal connected to PIC do?The data sheet does not mention of a HS 40Mhz!!)

 

[threewire]

People please advice..