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Published2025-10-15
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Explore how to use Arduino to control a 360° rotation of a servo motor. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process, helping you understand the concepts behind servo motors and Arduino coding techniques to get the most out of your project.
Arduino, servo motor, rotate 360 degrees, Arduino code, servo motor control, robotics, electronics, automation, Arduino tutorial, programming, DIY projects
Introduction to Servo Motors and Arduino
When it comes to learning about robotics or automation systems, one of the fundamental components you'll encounter is the servo motor. These tiny yet powerful devices are commonly used in robotics, camera equipment, and many other applications where precise movement is required. Servo motors are especially useful because they offer controlled rotation, and can be easily interfaced with an Arduino board.
A servo motor is a small electric motor designed to rotate to a precise angle and maintain that position until it is told to move again. Unlike a regular DC motor, which continuously rotates until powered off, a servo motor can be controlled to rotate to a specific position, typically between 0° and 180°.
A 360° servo motor, also known as a continuous rotation servo, is a variant that can rotate continuously in either direction, but with control over the speed and direction of rotation. This makes it perfect for use in projects where you need consistent movement, such as in robots, RC cars, or any mechanical system requiring smooth and controlled motion.
How Does Arduino Control a Servo Motor?
Arduino is a fantastic platform for controlling servo motors due to its simplicity and versatility. The Arduino programming environment allows you to write code that tells the servo motor exactly how to move, including precise control over its angle of rotation and speed.
By using PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signals, Arduino can communicate with the servo motor, telling it how far to rotate. The PWM signal sent by the Arduino to the servo motor determines the angle or position the motor should reach.
In this guide, we’ll explore how you can set up a 360° continuous rotation servo motor with Arduino and make it rotate in either direction. By the end, you'll be ready to implement these motors into your own DIY projects.
Materials Needed for Your Project:
Before we dive into the coding and setup, let's ensure you have everything needed to complete the project:
Arduino board (e.g., Arduino Uno)
360° Continuous Rotation Servo Motor (e.g., TowerPro SG90 or similar)
External power source (optional, depending on your servo motor’s current requirements)
These components are readily available online or at any local electronics store.
Wiring the Servo Motor to the Arduino
Connecting the servo motor to your Arduino is a straightforward task, but it’s important to get the wiring right. A typical servo motor has three wires:
Power (VCC) – This is typically a red wire that connects to the 5V pin on the Arduino (or an external power supply if required).
Ground (GND) – This is a black or brown wire that connects to the GND pin on the Arduino.
Signal (Control) – This is typically a yellow or orange wire that connects to a PWM-capable pin on the Arduino (for example, pin 9).
For basic setup, connect the wires as follows:
Servo Power (Red) → Arduino 5V
Servo Ground (Black) → Arduino GND
Servo Signal (Yellow/Orange) → Arduino Pin 9
At this point, your servo is connected to the Arduino board and ready for control.
Writing the Code to Control Your Servo Motor
The beauty of using Arduino is that you don’t need to be an expert programmer to get things moving. The Arduino IDE (Integrated Development Environment) makes it easy to write and upload code to your board.
We will now write a simple Arduino sketch to rotate the 360° continuous servo motor in both directions.
#include // Include the Servo library
Servo myServo; // Create a Servo object to control the servo motor
myServo.attach(9); // Attach the servo to pin 9 on the Arduino board
// Rotate clockwise (speed controlled by the value)
delay(2000); // Rotate for 2 seconds
delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second
// Rotate counterclockwise (speed controlled by the value)
delay(2000); // Rotate for 2 seconds
// Stop the motor again
delay(1000); // Wait for 1 second
Understanding the Code and Advanced Features
In this section, let’s break down the code and understand how it works.
Including the Servo Library:
This line tells the Arduino IDE that you want to use the Servo library, which simplifies controlling servo motors.
Creating the Servo Object:
Here, we declare a Servo object named myServo. This object will control the servo motor connected to pin 9.
Setting Up the Servo in setup() Function:
The attach() function binds the servo motor to a specific pin (in this case, pin 9) on the Arduino. Once this is done, you can control the servo through this pin.
Rotating the Servo in loop() Function:
This line tells the servo to rotate to 180 degrees, which, for a continuous rotation servo, makes the motor rotate in a clockwise direction.
A value of 90 degrees typically tells the servo to stop rotating, as many continuous servos are calibrated to halt at this position.
A value of 0 degrees rotates the servo in the opposite direction (counterclockwise).
The delay() function is used to control how long the motor rotates before changing direction. You can adjust these values to experiment with different timing and speeds.
Customizing the Rotation Speed
One of the advantages of using a 360° continuous rotation servo is the ability to control the speed at which the motor rotates. The speed is determined by the PWM signal sent to the servo.
A value of 90 degrees generally means no movement.
A value greater than 90 degrees (up to 180) makes the servo rotate in the clockwise direction at varying speeds, the higher the value, the faster it rotates.
A value less than 90 degrees (down to 0) makes the servo rotate counterclockwise.
To fine-tune the rotation speed, you can modify the servo motor’s command values and experiment with different timings in the delay() function.
Using External Power for Your Servo
If your servo motor requires more power than the Arduino can supply, it’s a good idea to connect an external power supply. When using a power supply, ensure that the ground of the power supply is connected to the ground of the Arduino to complete the circuit. Also, make sure your power supply matches the voltage requirements of the servo motor (usually 5V or 6V).
Conclusion: The Power of Arduino and Servo Motors
In this guide, we’ve explored the basics of using Arduino to control a 360° continuous rotation servo motor. With just a few simple connections and some straightforward code, you can harness the power of servos for your own DIY projects. Whether you're building a robot, a remote-controlled car, or an automated camera, understanding how to manipulate servo motors is an essential skill in the world of electronics and robotics.
With Arduino’s ease of use and versatility, the possibilities for servo-driven projects are endless. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced maker, controlling a servo motor with Arduino is a rewarding and fun way to dive deeper into the world of electronics.
Kpower has delivered professional drive system solutions to over 500 enterprise clients globally with products covering various fields such as Smart Home Systems, Automatic Electronics, Robotics, Precision Agriculture, Drones, and Industrial Automation.
Update：2025-10-15
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