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  • Navigation with the cyber:bot

Navigation with the cyber:bot

Are the Servos Centered?

The cyber:bot robot’s drive motors are called Continuous Rotation Servos. If you received your robot preassembled, these servos might need to be re-centered before moving on to navigation activities.

  • If you just followed the directions in the Build your cyber:bot tutorial, you will have already centered your servos, and you can skip to the next page: Servo Direction
  • If you were just given an assembled cyber:bot to use, the servos might need to be re-centered. Use the test below to find out.
  • If there isn’t a small hole near the wires, they are likely parallax’s pre-centered servos.

Test if the servos are centered

Before running this test, double-check the battery and servo connections.

  • Set the cyber:bot board’s power (PWR) switch to Position 0.
  • Make sure the battery holder is loaded with 5 AA batteries.
  • Make sure the battery holder’s barrel plug is firmly plugged into the cyber:bot board’s barrel jack. 
  • Use the image below to verify that the servo supply jumper is set properly for the kind of AA batteries you are using.
  • Connect your micro:bit module to your computer with a USB cable.

Example Project: both_servos_stay_still

  • In a browser, go to makecode.microbit.org
  • Open a new project and name it both_servos_stay_still.
  • Make sure the cyberbot Extension is included in your new project.
    (See Add modules to your micro:bit).
  • Make sure your micro:bit is properly connected and paired.
  • Enter the blocks below and click the purple Download button in the bottom left.

If a servo has not yet been centered, or if its center setting has drifted, it might turn, vibrate, or make a humming noise when your project tells it to stay still.

  • Set the cyber:bot robot’s PWR switch to 2, to provide power to the servos. 
  • If both servos stay still, it means they are both centered, and you can skip to the next page: Servo Direction.
  • Any servo that hums, vibrates, or turns in response to this test will need to be re-centered by following the instructions below.

If one or both servos need to be re-centered:

Tools You Might Need

If the Procedure checklist says to remove the servo from the cassis, use these tools that come in the cyber:bot Robot kit:

(1) Parallax screwdriver, or a different Phillips #1 point screwdriver with a 1/8″ (3.18 mm) or smaller shaft.

(1) Parallax Combination Wrench (#700-10025), or a 1/4″ combination wrench.

Procedure

  • Check the part of the servo case where the 3-wire cable comes out. There should be a small round access hole very close to it.
  • If that access hole is close to the battery pack, the servo will need to be disconnected from the chassis.
    • Unscrew the screw in the center of the wheel.
    • Pull the wheel away from the servo to pull it off the output shaft.
    • Unscrew the four screws/nuts that hold the servo to the chassis.
  • If the access hole is instead closer to the front of the cyber:bot, the servo will not need to be disconnected.
  • Go to Center the Servos First activity, and start with the Test and Center the Servo Connected to P18 section. 
  • Reattach the servo to the cyber:bot chassis, and reattach the wheel to the servo. 

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