The article demonstrates how to use a Raspberry Pi, motor driver board, and stepper motors to control the direction, speed, and rotation of stepper motors for robotics applications. Gaining experience with basic electronic components like LEDs and switches that can be incorporated into robots helps develop the electronic and programming skills needed to interface motors with the Raspberry Pi.
By integrating several elements – a motor driver board, stepper motor(s), single board computer, wiring, and a programming language – a functional motion system can be built. Working together, these components enable accurate robotic movement along an intended path.
Key concepts covered include controlling the rotational direction, velocity, and position of stepper motors through a driver board connected to a Raspberry Pi. Previous experience in embedded electronics contributes relevant skills applicable to this project. The assembly teaches the principles of creating robotic motion by combining individual hardware and software building blocks.
- In Raspberry Pi, logic 0 is nearly 0 Volts and logic 1 is nearly 3 Volts. 3V is logical 1.
- Stepper motors contain multiple electromagnets that can operate individually, facilitating precise rotational positioning in discrete steps or continuously. Their accuracy, bidirectional ability, and optional feedback make them suitable for robotics.
- Raspberry Pi GPIO pins should not be connected to voltages exceeding 3.3V to avoid damage.
- As a single-board computer, the Raspberry Pi can directly connect and control a wide array of devices through its GPIO header containing SPI, I2C, UART interfaces, and 3.3/5V power. Unlike Arduino’s 5V logic, the RPi interfaces motors via 3.3V GPIO pins for safer operation.
The key concepts involve interpreting voltage levels as logic values, stepper motor operation principles, adhering to safe GPIO voltages, and leveraging the RPi’s interfacing capabilities through its multipurpose header pins.
How to control a stepper motor with Raspberry Pi
This article aims to provide readers with a thorough tutorial on controlling stepper motors using the Raspberry Pi’s versatile programming capabilities, applicable to many different types of projects.
Through simple code, one can govern the pulse signals powering the motor through incremental steps and angles. Likewise, rotational speed can be modulated by adjusting pulse frequency. Underpinning this is manipulation of GPIO pin states, with HIGH engaging motor movement and LOW cessation, while properly timed sequential switching achieves angular positioning.
The overarching goal is to equip readers with the technical knowledge to apply their newfound skills flexibly. By distilling the core principles of motor actuation and translating them into code, a basis is established for imaginative practical applications of this strong and precise actuation methodology.
How to program the RPi and what components you need to use to control one or more stepper motors can be found here:
- Raspberry Pi – Stepper Motor Control & Breakout Board – from this tutorial you can learn how to control a stepper motor running Java on Raspberry Pi and using the components from a Stepper Motor Breakout Board kit;
- JavaFX on Raspberry Pi: Some fun with stepper motor – this guide shows you how to use a user interface application to control a stepper motor. The application is called JavaFX UI, which is an application able to control the GPIO pins of the Raspberry Pi;
- Adafruit’s Raspberry Pi Lesson 10. Stepper Motors – stepper motors can be driven by different components and in different ways.This tutorial will teach how to connect a stepper motor to a common motor driver IC, such as the L293D or ULN2803. Additionally, it offers guidance on determining when each type is best suited, providing useful insights into motor driver selection and application.The core focus is establishing the hardware interface between motor and integrated circuit controller. But insights gleaned around comparative semiconductor specifications and operating parameters help inform when different driver chips may be preferential.
By imparting both the practical “how to” knowledge as well as higher-level considerations on proper component choice, readers emerge equipped to apply this interfacing technique capably while also developing an intuition around optimization. The combined skillsets empower effective systems-level thinking.
- Controlling a stepper motor with the Raspberry Pi and Piface – using a simple digital interface compatible RPi, your work can become easier. This guide has defined the concept of ‘Pi-Face Digital Interface’, a complete resource to control motors, lights, and many more components that can be found in a robot. The electronic board is a credit card-sized device able to sense inputs, fully compatible with Python, capable of the onscreen simulator, user friendly, and a real protection for the Pi;
- Stepper Motor Control In Python – this tutorial shows you how to control the 28BJY-48 stepper motor with the ULN2003 motor drive board. The programming language used is Python, while the entire example is a simple exercise to catch the skills to embed components;
- Raspberry Pi, Unipolar Stepper motors, ULN2003 Darlington Pairs, USB Gamepad, Python – with this example, we enter into the area of real-life applications were in a vehicle are embedded two stepper motors controlled with a RPi and a USB Gamepad/Joystick;
- [link removed] Tutorial : Control a DC motor with Raspberry Pi – this tutorial is a comprehensive source to learn how to control the speed and the direction of a stepper motor using a dual H-bridge motor driver integrated circuit (L293D);
