Pololu Mini Maestro 18-Channel USB Servo Controller (Assembled) - PL-1354

Pololu Mini Maestro 18-Channel USB Servo Controller (Assembled) - PL-1354 info

Pololu Mini Maestro 18 -Channel USB Servo Controller is a highly versatile (and compact) servo controller and general-purpose I/O board. It supports three control methods: USB for direct connection to a computer, TTL serial for use with embedded systems, and internal scripting for self-contained, host controller-free applications. The channels can be configured as servo outputs for use with radio control (RC) servos or electronic speed controls (ESCs), as digital outputs, or as analog/digital inputs. The extremely precise, high-resolution servo pulses have a jitter of less than 200 ns, making these servo controllers well suited for high-performance applications such as robotics and animatronics, and built-in speed and acceleration control for each channel make it easy to achieve smooth, seamless movements without requiring the control source to constantly compute and stream intermediate position updates to the Mini Maestros. The Mini Maestros also feature configurable pulse rates from 1 to 333 Hz and can generate a wide range of pulses, allowing maximum responsiveness and range from modern servos.

A free configuration and control program is available for Windows and Linux, making it simple to configure and test Pololu Mini Maestro 18 -Channel USB Servo Controller over USB, create sequences of servo movements for animatronics or walking robots, and write, step through, and run scripts stored in the servo controller. The Mini Maestros’ 8 KB of internal script memory allows storage of up to approximately 3000 servo positions that can be automatically played back without any computer or external microcontroller connected.

Because Pololu Mini Maestro 18 -Channel USB Servo Controller’s channels can also be used as general-purpose digital outputs and analog or digital inputs, they provide an easy way to read sensors and control peripherals directly from a PC over USB, and these channels can be used with the scripting system to enable creation of self-contained animatronic displays that respond to external stimuli and trigger additional events beyond just moving servos.

Pololu Mini Maestro 18-Channel USB Servo Controller - General Specifications

• Three control methods: USB, TTL (5V) serial, and internal scripting
• 0.25μs output pulse width resolution (corresponds to approximately 0.025° for a typical servo, which is beyond what the servo could resolve)
• Pulse rate configurable from 1 to 333 Hz
• Wide pulse range of 64 to 4080 μs
• Individual speed and acceleration control for each channel
• Channels can be optionally configured to go to a specified position or turn off on startup or error
• A simple scripting language lets you program the controller to perform complex actions even after its USB and serial connections are removed
• Comprehensive user’s guide
• Maestro Arduino library makes it easier to get started controlling a Maestro from an Arduino or compatible boards like our A-Stars

Pololu Mini Maestro 18-Channel USB Servo Controller - Technical Specifications

• Channels: 18
• Baud: 300 - 200000 bps
• Minimum operating voltage: 5 V
• Maximum operating voltage: 16 V
• Supply current: 40 mA
• Size: 1.10" x 1.80"
• Weight: 4.9 g

Videos

Documents

Pololu Maestro Servo Controller User’s Guide: https://www.pololu.com/docs/0J40
Pololu USB Software Development Kit: https://www.pololu.com/docs/0J41
Sample Project: Simple Hexapod Walker: https://www.pololu.com/docs/0J42
Application Note: Using AutoHotkey with Pololu USB Products: https://www.pololu.com/docs/0J45​

References

Pololu Web Site: https://www.pololu.com/product/1354