What is a microcontroller?

The microcontroller is the IC (integrated circuit) device which is also used for controlling as well as for the various portions of electronic systems. There are some important features of microcontroller that involves memory, microprocessor unit along several peripherals [1].=

Figure 1: Microcontroller

1.      Name three products that have embedded microcontrollers?

·         Smart washing machine

·         Mp3 player

·         Microwave oven

2.      Name two microcontroller brands other than the Arduino?

·         Intel

·         Microchip Technology (PIC)

3.      What is unique about the Arduino?

The unique thing about the Arduino is its connection with the board to the computer by the USB cables that are also doing the dual purpose for acting like the serial port and supplying the power to the interface of Computer and Arduino.

Figure 2: Arduino

4.      What is a potentiometer?

The potentiometer is also known as variable resistor, manually adjustable by the three terminals. There two terminal are associated with the resistive element and their third element is also connected by the adjustable wiper. Thus evaluate the output voltage by the position of the wiper. The main use of a potentiometer is to measure the potential difference between two terminals of the circuit. It is measure only when there is no connection of battery of any external device [2].

Figure 3: Potentiometer

5.      What is the difference between a servo motor and a DC motor?

6.      What is the difference between a servo motor and a stepper motor?

Figure 4: Stepper motor

7.      What are the components of a servo motor?

There are three primary components of the servo motor;

·         Motor

·         Drive

·         Feedback mechanism

9. Define the following specifications of a servo motor:

        i.            operating speed : The operating speed of the servo motor is the time required for the shaft to reach specified positions [5]. The common servo motor also has the operating speed in the normal range of 1, 05 to the 0,2 s/60 degree torque. This motor contains slow speed because its torque is extremely high. According to the relation torque and speed are inversely proportional to each other.

       ii.            running current: When the servo motor runs by the normal load then the servo motor also takes the “Running current”. The value of the running current for the servo motor is 0.2A to 0.25A.

     iii.             Stall torque: The Stall torque is produced through the various devices where the rotational output speed is zero and a torque load which is causing the rotational speed to also become zero [6] The stall torque value in servo motor   3.2kpcm and 3.5 kpcm.

     iv.            Stall current: In the servo motor, the stall current has occurred when the motor is not moving, and thus there is no reactance as well as no EMF. The value of the stall current in the servo motor is 0.8A to 1.0A [7].

       v.             Idle current: Current is needed through the servos which are also tended and it is unspecified where the design by the servo has the most of components and there are two current produced idle current and quiescent current.

     vi.             Running life: For any servo motor, there is no specific time table for the running life, But in the idle condition, the servo motor could also last the 20+ years as well as the under the extreme condition which could also last and less than one year [8].

   vii.            Limit angle: The servo motor is small so that is why you could place it at any angle very accurately. But for a certain range usually from 180-270 degrees.

 viii.            Spline: The Futaba manufactures servo has four different splines. Moreover, mini size and standard servo motor contains 25 splines [9].

     ix.            Horn type: There are different types of Horn in the servo motor;

·         55707 Mini Aluminum single Arm

·         Hitec OEM Arm set

·         B1 Servo Horn

·         D1 Servo Horn

       x.            Excessive play: The system of the excessive play is the servo motor is defined when the steering wheel could also be turned by one or more half inches without the wheel of rotation. Thus the steering wheel is also lost.

     xi.            Operating travel: The timing, as well as physical limits for servo hardware changes among model as well as brands but general servo’s of full angular motion, would also travel in a range of  along with the neutral position of .

  xii.      Travelling Angle deviation: The servo motor output shaft is capable of the traveling of around. And sometimes it is used in the  and changes through the manufacture. The servo motor is used to control the angular motion among the 0 to 180 degrees.

 xiii.            Centering deviation: A servo motor also has the rotation detector which is mounted by the back shaft side of the servo motor and it also detects the speed and position of the rotor. The servo motor also enables the high response positioning operation and the high resolutions.

 xiv.            Neutral position: The servo motor could turn in the 90 direction by the total movement. Whereas the neutral position of the servo motor is defined as the position of the servo which also has the same amount for the potential rotation in the anti-clockwise and clockwise direction [10]

Figure 5: Servo control positions

   xv.             Dead bandwidth: The servo motor has the 1 to 2-microsecond dead bandwidth thus the various also have the 10 microseconds. A servo is controlled through the string of pluses which is normally 60 pluses per second [11].  

 xvi.             Maximum travel: The actual input for the servo motor which is the difference among the feedback signal as well as required the signal thus speed of the motor is proportional to the difference among the required position and current position. The power amount is needed through the motor which is proportional to distance and needs to travel [12].

Figure 6: servo motor

10. What is pulse width modulation?

Pulse width modulation is the technique that is used to reduce the power output of an electrical signal by chopping it off in a discrete part which is achieved by turning the switch between load and supply at a very fast rate.

11. What is breadboard?

A breadboard is a board or a construction base which is used for prototyping of electric circuits. As there is no soldering involved in the breadboard, they are reusable.

Figure 7: Breadboard

12. Explain the anatomy of the breadboard.

The breadboard has a horizontal strip of metal beneath the upper layer. Metal rows have holes that are 0.1 inches apart from each other and wires or the legs of the component can be inserted into the exposed holes of the upper layer. Two things that are in the same get connected. On both sides of breadboards are power rails that run in parallel. There are two columns on each side. One is positive 5 volts and the other is ground.

References Arduino assignment