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Actuator Type Matcher

Run the Actuator Type Matcher MicroSim Fullscreen

You can include this MicroSim on your website using the following iframe:

<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/robot-arm/sims/actuator-type-matcher/main.html"
        height="542px" width="100%" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Description

Read a comparison of three families of actuator, the hobby servo, the serial bus servo and the brushless CAN actuator, and then match eight short descriptions to the family each one fits. Used in Chapter 5.

The table is the comparison of the three actuator families from the start of Chapter 5. On a wide screen the whole table is shown and a family button highlights its column. On a phone the table is shown one family at a time. The $13.89 price is the STS3215 in the SO-ARM100 bill of materials, and the 24 V and 48 V supplies are those of the reBot-DevArm.

Lesson Plan

Grade level: Middle school and up (age 12+). Time: 10 minutes.

  1. Read the table. In Explore mode, compare the three families row by row: how you command each one, what it reports back, its supply voltage and its cost.
  2. Eight descriptions. Each description gives one feature. Choose the family it fits and press Check. You get one try for each description, and 7 of 8 is mastery.
  3. Read the feedback. After each answer the sim shows the matching row of the table, with the correct family highlighted.
  4. Think about it. A hobby servo, a bus servo and a CAN actuator are all servos. What does each one let your program see?

Specification

The learning objective, evidence of mastery and content for this MicroSim are specified in Chapter 5: Actuators and Sensors.