Rotary Servo Base Unit

Rotary Servo Base Unit
Foundational modular control experiment

The Rotary Servo Base Unit is the fundamental element of the Quanser Rotary Control family. It is ideally suited to introduce basic control concepts and theories on an easy-to-use and intuitive platform. Use it on its own to perform several experiments or expand the scope of this unit by adding on other modules to teach an even wider range of control concepts. Instructors can thus expose students to a variety of rotary control challenges for a minimal investment. Real-world applications of the rotary servomotor include the autofocus feature in modern cameras, cruise control in automobiles, and servo actuation in aerospace.

The Rotary Servo Base Unit is a geared servo-mechanism system. The plant consists of a DC motor in a solid aluminum frame. This DC motor drives the smaller pinion gear through an internal gear box. The pinion gear is fixed to a larger middle gear that rotates on the load shaft. The position of the load shaft can be measured using a high resolution optical encoder or a potentiometer. The encoder is also used to estimate the speed of the motor.