prop 1 plus servo info

[dreadworksfx]

Hello, I may just be confusing myself as im trolling through the forums but I had a couple of questions,
I am making an animatronic head that is all servo controlled and the prop1 is the, "Brain" im using 6+ micro servos and the movements are as follows:
- Brow movement ( up down and independant of each other)- set movements - 2 servos
- Blinking (quick and randomized) -1 servo
- Jaw ( small open and close) -set movement-1 servo
- possibly eye movement ( up down left right) - set movement- 2 servos
- Possible chest breathing (moving a fiberglass plate foward and back) set movement repeating at a constant

I was wondering if I had to have the servo power enhancement board when I am using micro servos that im assuming require less power and I am having issues with programming im currently in the process of figuring out how to write the codes (very beginning stages) and dont understand the %00000001 <for servos or how to code multiple servos on a board.


Any information is more than appreciated.

Tahnk you , Jonathan Shroyer
Dreadworksfx

[JonnyMac]

Jonathan,

The latest revision of the Prop-1 has plenty of electrical power, what the Prop-1 processor lacks, however, is the processing speed to handle that many servos; what you're attempting to do is the equivalent of entering a Volkswagon in next weekend's Indy 500. 

The Prop-2 would be better, the HC-8+ (rolling out soon) would be best.  Why?  Well, servos are snippy; they require updating every 20 milliseconds (that's 50x per second) in order to hold their position.  With six servos you would spend almost all of that 20 milliseconds doing the updates, leaving no time for program logic.  The Prop-2 is 5x faster than the Prop-1 so that's better, but the HC-8+ has eight independent brains, all are about 100x faster than the Prop-2, and this is what's best.  In the HC-8+ we would dedicate one of the brains to servo updating (i.e., create a virtual servo controller).  The normal program, not bogged down with updating servos, could focus on movement and behavioral logic.

Using servos (well) is difficult.  Period.  I wish I could wave a magic wand to change that fact but it just isn't going to happen.  This is why most of the cooler servo projects you see actually use a PC to control the movements (using VSA, etc.).

[dreadworksfx]

well than i am truely interested in the HC-8 I am going to be making alot of animatronics for film and would prefer to just program a set code instead of using RC live - at the moment all i have is the prop 1 would it be possible to to at least run a couple of motors for brows and blinking and i can take care of the rest? is there enough processing speed for me to be able to have quick (esk) movements between 2 or 3 motors, im trying to see if i can get this card to work for anything besides lights :-p

Thank you

[JonnyMac]

I've posted code in the forums that show you how to run two or three servos in a small show in the Prop-1.  Will you be at MHC?   We have a little demo area next to our booth where we can do training and demos of just these sort of things.

[dreadworksfx]

dang unfortunantly i broke my neck pretty bad this year and because of that and money this is the first year .........ever i wont be at mhc. and ill look around thanks jon

[JonnyMac]

Sorry we won't see you, Jonathan -- but do take care and heal completely.

The search engine works pretty well and you can find lots of servo programs.  Since programming is new have a look and we'll move forward at your pace.