Autonomous drones and robots utilize small motors. These fast-spinning mini motors require miniature encoders and IC package sizes. This article shows how an optical sinusoidal encoder provides a higher resolution and increased speeds with a 2x3 mm dual simultaneous-sampling SAR-ADC.
August 11, 2020 by Bonnie Baker, Maxim Integrated
This article shows how to implement an analog PID controller, including adjusting of the angular position of a DC motor shaft, editing the design to control its speed, and tuning PID parameters for reliable performance.
August 14, 2018 by Mahmoud Hamdy, Brightskies Technologies
Remote controls for electronics often use IR (infrared) radiation in a very precisely coded sequence for channel surfing, volume adjustments, and more. One of the most popular codes is the SIRC (Sony Infrared Remote Code) which may be used with a PICAXE microcontroller to manage a stepper motor, or most any other electronic or electro-mechanical device.
February 09, 2017 by Charles R. Hampton
Tracking an infrared light source is not as difficult as you might think; a 14-pin PICAXE, a stepper motor with a driver IC, three phototransistors, and a few other components will do the trick.
January 17, 2017 by Charles R. Hampton