Arduino+Servo+Potentiometer

In this tutorial I will show Arduino users how to control a continuous rotation servo or a normal servo.
This Instructurable cane be used in combination with my 4 Servos 2 Joysticks Instructurable to control a robotic arm.
It could be applied for example for the Claw Servo when needed to do the Open or Close action. And it will help you manage the amount of pressure applied to the Claw. Use your imagination! All the parts were bought @RadioShack except the micro servo.

NOTE: This Instructurable was made using other users ideas. And the main purpose is to help Arduino new users with their projects.

Simple materials.

Arduino UNO REV3
Bread Board
Jumper wires
Potentiometer
Micro servo
Standard Parallax servo (modified) [See my other Instructurable on how to mod this servo]
Arduino Software version 0023.(used in all my other Arduino Instructurables)

The connections are very simple.

Potentiometer: (Analog pin) It is the middle connection on the potentiometer

A0 to (Analog pin) Green on picture

Note: look at the picture diagram for a better detail of the connections. 

Continuous Servo

Servo Connections:
Red = Arduino 5V 
Black = Arduino GND
White = Arduino (pin9)

Note: look at the picture diagram for a better detail of the connections.

Micro servo 

Servo Connections:
Red = Arduino 5V
Black = Arduino GND
White = Arduino (pin9)

Note: look at the picture diagram for a better detail of the connections.

Just copy and paste the code on your Arduino Sofware.

#include <Servo.h>
Servo myservo;
int potpin = 0;
int val;
void setup()
{
myservo.attach(9);
}
void loop()
{
val = analogRead(potpin);  
         
         
val = map(val, 0, 1023, 0, 179); 
         
         
myservo.write(val);    
         
delay(15);      
}

The following is the code I just modified for my other tutorial 4 servos + 2 joysticks Instructurable I have add the potetoimeter to control the open and close of the robotic claw. For more info go to my Arduino robotic arm Instructurable to learn more

CODE:


#include <Servo.h>

const int servo1 = 3;       // first servo
const int servo2 = 10;      // second servo
const int servo3 = 5;       // third servo
const int servo4 = 11;      // fourth servo
const int servo5 = 9;       // fifth servo
const int joyH = 2;        // L/R Parallax Thumbstick
const int joyV = 3;        // U/D Parallax Thumbstick
const int joyX = 4;        // L/R Parallax Thumbstick
const int joyP = 5;        // U/D Parallax Thumbstick
const int potpin = 0;      // O/C potentiometer

int servoVal;           // variable to read the value from the analog pin


Servo myservo1;  // create servo object to control a servo
Servo myservo2;  // create servo object to control a servo
Servo myservo3;  // create servo object to control a servo
Servo myservo4;  // create servo object to control a servo
Servo myservo5;  // create servo object to control a servo
void setup() {

  // Servo
  myservo1.attach(servo1);  // attaches the servo
  myservo2.attach(servo2);  // attaches the servo
  myservo3.attach(servo3);  // attaches the servo
  myservo4.attach(servo4);  // attaches the servo
  myservo5.attach(servo5);  // attaches the servo

  // Inizialize Serial
  Serial.begin(9600);
}


void loop(){

  servoVal = analogRead(potpin);  
 
  servoVal = map(servoVal, 0, 1023, 0, 179);
 
  myservo5.write(servoVal);    
         
delay(15);  
  // Display Joystick values using the serial monitor
    outputJoystick();

    // Read the horizontal joystick value  (value between 0 and 1023)
    servoVal = analogRead(joyH);        
    servoVal = map(servoVal, 0, 1023, 0, 180);     // scale it to use it with the servo (result  between 0 and 180)

    myservo2.write(servoVal);                         // sets the servo position according to the scaled value  

    // Read the horizontal joystick value  (value between 0 and 1023)
    servoVal = analogRead(joyV);         
    servoVal = map(servoVal, 0, 1023, 70, 180);     // scale it to use it with the servo (result between 70 and 180)

    myservo1.write(servoVal);                           // sets the servo position according to the scaled value

    delay(15);                                       // waits for the servo to get there

// Read the horizontal joystick value  (value between 0 and 1023)
    servoVal = analogRead(joyP);         
    servoVal = map(servoVal, 0, 1023, 70, 180);     // scale it to use it with the servo (result between 70 and 180)

    myservo4.write(servoVal);                           // sets the servo position according to the scaled value

    delay(15);                                       // waits for the servo to get there
// Read the horizontal joystick value  (value between 0 and 1023)
    servoVal = analogRead(joyX);         
    servoVal = map(servoVal, 0, 1023, 70, 180);     // scale it to use it with the servo (result between 70 and 180)

    myservo3.write(servoVal);                           // sets the servo position according to the scaled value

    delay(15);                                       // waits for the servo to get there

}


/**
* Display joystick values
*/
void outputJoystick(){

    Serial.print(analogRead(joyH));
    Serial.print ("---");
    Serial.print(analogRead(joyV));
    Serial.println ("----------------");
    Serial.print(analogRead(joyP));
    Serial.println ("----------------");
    Serial.print(analogRead(joyX));
    Serial.println ("----------------");
}

The potentiometer does not do anything.
A: Make sure the middle connection of the potentiometer is connected to the Analog pin on the Arduino.
There is no power on the potentiometer.
A: Make sure you have not inverted the GND wire and the + wire (follow the diagram on step 2) If nothing happens then it is the faulty potentiometer.
The continuous rotation servo won't stop. Or it is vibrating when reach the middle position of the potentiometer.
That is normal for a continuous rotation servo and you should never try to keep it in the middle position or you will damage the servo.
( I already did this for testing purposes). You can only stop a continuous servo when using the script code (values) specifically, ex: pin-bot or an avoiding obstacles robot.