Raspberry Pi Pico W LESSON 97: Understanding Servo Signal Timing Control

[@jameslewellen150]

I finally got the homework done. I posted it on my channel. Actually using the oscilloscope made doing this home work easy. Thanks tor doing these videos Paul. See you next Thursday.

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@qzorn4440]

I love these math videos. Also, I think looking up the Servo schematic is a great learning lesson on how the servo translates pulse width to rotation. Paul, Happy Holidays. ✨

[@edSabio572]

Thanks Paul!!!!

[@peterhartshauser5176]

Thank you Paul. This is great and valuable information, and I appreciate your lessons.

[@DrDave327]

Great content, Paul! Very challenging homework. I couldn't get the servo to go to zero on the last program I ran. I, of course, will be anxious to see your next lesson to see what I am missing. Here is the title to my homework vid: state Machine Servo Control

[@paulmcwhorter]

Excellent!

[@patrickfox-roberts7528]

Thanks paul

[@AliKhani-jh8gd]

you are incredible , thanks a lot for teaching

[@AntonioVukšić-g3c]

Love it!

[@kevinshaver5613]

Interesting lesson

[@johnganci933]

Homework complete. Posted to my youtube channel. Great lesson!

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND!

[@tripleyt6122]

Make a ML series for 2025 Man as you teach good math

[@johnganci933]

I've got the homework done but ran into a problem when I opened my webcam to show the servo. The PC I'm using is a Raspberry Pi 4B with the Raspberry Pi Pico W connected to it via USB (as is the webcam). Shortly after starting the homework solution, the Raspberry Pi gets an error and the screen turns gray. Only way out is to power it off. Ugh. Posed a question on the Raspberry Pi forum. I may submit a few short videos showing one interaction.

[@paulmcwhorter]

Not sure what is going on. If you have your pico, servo, and WEB cam all connected to your pi, I wonder if they are trying to draw too much current combined from the pi?

[@johnganci933]

@@paulmcwhorter I think it's something about VLC (what controls the webcam) and the servo. I get a popup "Error looking up passwd struct for uid 1000: input/output error" then the background turns light gray. I can move the mouse and attempt to shutdown the pi, but that fails as well. Can only power off. I'm going to try creating my video in short "spurts". My solution allows the user to input an angle, so multiple runs of the PIO program. Will stop after one. Hopefully I'll get a video done before the deadline!

[@johnganci933]

@@paulmcwhorter You might be right. My real PC runs linux. I have been avoiding installing Thonny there, but maybe I will have to try that. I will still have the problem of the pico and webcam connected to USB ports on my desktop, though. Grumble. I'm still thinking about it.

[@johnganci933]

@@paulmcwhorter Turns out your assessment about trying to draw too much power is correct! Your last Arduino video, adding the external power adapter, reminded me of your previous Arduino series using the Elegoo kit. I followed along with that series, and remember having to use a similar adapter. Dug through my old stuff, found the adapter, plugged it in to the separate breadboard containing the servo, moved the servo red wire to the 5V there, added a ground wire from the servo board to the pico board, and tested. Success!!! It's time for my morning walk. Will make my homework video in a couple of hours. Thanks, Paul.

[@quaternion-pi]

Lesson 97 assignment with user defined class servo state machine and oscilloscope servo timings: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJOmq6WHrrd9abs Great series!

[@paulmcwhorter]

LEGEND! One thing to think about . . . it looks like you are passing the class a SM id for which state machine to use, if I am reading this right. One thing you might think about, the casual user might not want to thing about it. Can you make the class where it assigns the state machine, and increments as user adds more servos, so user does not have to think about it?

[@scottwait3585]

Thank you Paul!!