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Controlling motors

To control motors you have 3 options.

  1. Power
  2. Run to position
  3. Velocity

Lets break down what each one is.

Power

All motors use power in some form, using power to control your robot directly changes the amount of electricity being sent to the motor being controlled.

Run to Position

Many motors have little trackers in the called encoders. Encoders measure how far a motor has moved, and the speed of the movement. Encoders can also be used to set how far a motor should turn, and then stay still, resisting all movement. Encoders are similar to servos in that they can be used to go to a specific location accurately.

Velocity

Using encoders, Velocity can be used to set the speed of a motor instead of setting the amount of power that goes to a motor which results in much more accurate and consistent speeds.

For example, you can set the motor to go 4 rotations per second, instead of just giving it power.

Which on should I use?

If you are controlling the specific position of a motor, or want to create boundaries for which the motor can not move past, use Go to Position. If you controlling the specific speed of a motor, use Velocity. If you controlling the specific postition of a motor, using it like a servo, use go to position.