Servo Motor Control & Its Uses. Part 2

Servo controls are widely used as wind turbine pitch control too. The wind turbine pitch control system are used for changing the frequency of the rotor blades in a wind power system or a wind mill that works with the real wind speed in order to adjust the output power attaining the highest utilization efficiency of the wind power and thus providing a protection for the rotor blades. The servomotors are used as the pitch control for the wind turbines.  

There are three different types of servo motors that are normally used in the modern servo systems. These are:

• AC servo motors – These motors are based on the induction motor designs
• DC servo motors – These are based on the DC motor design
• AC brushless servo motors – These are based on the synchronous motor designs

  

The servo motors provide a motion profile that is a set of commands programmed in a controller which defines the operation of the servo motors in regards to velocity, position and time. Servo motion control makes the robotic devices and other such devices work with utmost precision.  





            

Servo Motor Control & Its Uses. Part 1

The Servo motor is in use for quite some time now. Because of its diverse functionality, the servo motor has gained popularity. The easy to use applications mostly in RC electronics and other devices make it a popular and widely used thing.   The Servo motor control refers to the error sensing the feedback control that is used for correcting the performance of a particular system. The RC servo motors are actually DC motors that are fitted with a servo mechanism in order to have accurate control of angular position. The RC servo motor control generally has a 90° to 180° rotation limit. But there other servo motors that come with 360° rotation limit. However, the servo motors do not need to rotate on a continuous basis. It will only rotate between its defined angles. 

The servo motors are majorly used for their precision positioning. These motors are widely used in robotic legs and arms, RC toys, sensor scanners, RC helicopters, cars and airplanes too.  The servo motors that are manufactured nowadays offer cost effective solutions for the users. These servo controls have efficient power saving technology and they can take up high inertial loads too. The servo motion control is exceptionally useful for robotics and thus they are made in small sizes but are very powerful and efficient.   

Mechanics of a Servo Control System

A servomotor is an essential component of a servo control system or servomechanism. It is usually paired with an encoding device to accurately provide the speed or position feedback detail. However, not all servomechanisms require a servomotor. A domestic furnace is a good example of a servo control device that does not use a servomotor. The thermostat in a domestic furnace acts as a servomechanism in the sense that it depends on feedback and error-control; however, no motor is directly controlled by it for performing this task.  

Classification of Servos

Servo amplifiers can be further classified based on the type of their performances and their feedback control:

·         Type 0- This type of servos typically generate a constant output value when the error signal remains constant under steady state

·         Type 1- These produce a constant output value when the error signal is null under steady state conditions. However, a constant change of reference would imply a constant error in reference tracking

·         Type 2 – These are capable of providing a steady output value with a null error signal under a steady state. Here a constant change in the reference provides zero error in reference tracking but a steady rate of acceleration of the reference would mean there is a constant error in reference tracking

Here, the bandwidth of the servo control systems, indicate their ability to respond to the rapidly changing input commands.

Servo Control System - What You Should Know

A servomechanism also commonly referred to as servo is a high-end device that works by using feedback and error sensing to automatically correct the performance of any mechanism. Typically, a servo control system is used to help control the speed, or the position but it may also be used in error correction of other parameters. For instance, the cruise control device in your automobile is a good example of a servomechanism. On the other hand, the automatic windows in your vehicle are not. This is because there is no error-correction or negative feedback involved in this process.

Uses of Servo Control Systems

Servomechanism has been commonly used in speed control for a very long time. Some of the early examples include the use of servomotors in steam engines, in the mechanism that governed the speed of the water wheels, in gas turbines for efficient fuel control, and in the aircraft speed propellers used during World War II for steady maneuvering. Servo controlsystems for positioning were first used in military navigation equipment and in fire-control devices.

Today, servo control devices are used in almost every field. Starting from satellite tracking devices, aircraft gun control, automatic machines, to remote controlled boats and airplanes all contain some kind of servo amplifiers. In addition, many cameras using auto-focus also make use of servomotors to simultaneously focus as well as accurately move the lens. It is also found in modern computer hard-disk-drives, and used commonly in industrial devices that require complex motion.