Servo is the name of the motor used to control and manage the
mechanical performance of particular machines. In engineering terms it refers
to an automatic device and applies this control theory to provide the actual
power for the whole mechanism to work. These electric motors have inbuilt
motion sensors to control applications for highly controlled motion.
Servo
motor control is focused at sensing errors in the mechanism which will
then send instant negative feedback or signals to correct this error and enable
smooth uninterrupted functioning. These signals can correct multiple parameters
from speed to mechanical position.
Controlling a mechanical position with servo amplifier –
Servo mainly uses electric motor to create mechanical force. The
concept of servo motor control lies
on two factors – there is an actual position and there is a desired position
within the mechanism. The difference is sensed and an error signal is then
amplified and then converted to reduce or completely erase the error. Other
than electric force some servos also use magnetic, pneumatics or hydraulic
force to correct position. They are widely used in military and marine navigation
systems, satellite tracking.
Controlling a mechanical speed
with servo amplifier –
The use of servo in
controlling speed has seen many earlier applications like the steam engine.
Today the application of servo motor
control is found in trains, airplanes as well as ships. But that’s not all.
These are also integral part of machine which run huge industrial functions and
run the complex industrial motions. The applications of speed control can be
seen from complex airplane navigation, to the cruise control function of a car,
to a hard disk drive in the laptop, in both cases focusing in error free and
precise performance.
Servo motor control is one of the key components of robotic
functioning. Constant error sensing feedback keeps all parts of a robotic
function in check. They also need very little power to run on and are ideal of
machine like robots which run on batteries. They are also essential parts of
any remote controlled device. These range from remotes for a child’s toy to a
complex one to manage a submarine or an aircraft. Basically they are keys to
any application which needs precise mechanical functioning and where error
would mean malfunction with serious ramifications. This is why it is so
important for the defense industry. Servo
mechanism can make smooth functioning through unfriendly terrains as well as
hard weather conditions.
The use of servo mechanism is the basis for mechanical accuracy.
