David Shapiro Mini Project 3

content/tutorials/Controlling a Servo with Joystick - David Shapiro Mini Project 3.md

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+# Title: Arduino Mega 2560 Servo Control with Joystick Tutorial
+date: 2025-06-06
+authors:
+  - name: David Shapiro
+
+Note: While this tutorial uses the Arduino Mega 2560 (as my ESP32 was being used for the final project), the principles remain very similar. ESP32 code is provided at the end for reference.
+
+## Learning Objectives
+
+- Understanding basic servo motor control
+- Reading analog input from a joystick module
+- Programming the Arduino Mega for motor control applications
+- Working with Arduino libraries
+
+## Required Components
+
+- 1x Arduino Mega 2560 board
+- 1x Servo motor (SG90 or similar)
+- 1x Analog joystick module
+- Jumper wires
+- Breadboard
+- USB cable for programming
+
+## Required Libraries
+
+In the Arduino IDE, you only need the standard Servo library (included with Arduino IDE)
+
+## Circuit Connections
+
+Connect the components as follows:
+
+### Joystick Module:
+
+- VCC → 5V
+- GND → GND
+- VRx (X-axis) → A1
+
+### Servo Motor:
+
+- Red wire (Power) → 5V
+- Brown/Black wire (Ground) → GND
+- Orange/Yellow wire (Signal) → Pin 50
+
+## Arduino Mega Code
+
+```
+#include <Servo.h>
+
+// Create servo object
+Servo myservo;
+
+// Define pins
+const int joystickXPin = A1;  // Joystick X-axis
+const int servoPin = 50;      // Servo control pin
+
+// Variables
+int joystickValue;
+int servoAngle;
+
+void setup() {
+  // Initialize serial communication
+  Serial.begin(9600);
+
+  // Attach servo to pin
+  myservo.attach(servoPin);
+}
+
+void loop() {
+  // Read joystick value (0-1023)
+  joystickValue = analogRead(joystickXPin);
+
+  // Map joystick value to servo angle (0-180)
+  servoAngle = map(joystickValue, 0, 1023, 0, 180);
+
+  // Control servo
+  myservo.write(servoAngle);
+
+  // Debug output
+  Serial.print("Joystick Value: ");
+  Serial.print(joystickValue);
+  Serial.print(" Servo Angle: ");
+  Serial.println(servoAngle);
+
+  // Small delay for stability
+  delay(15);
+}
+```
+
+## Important Notes for Arduino Mega
+
+- The Arduino Mega's ADC has 10-bit resolution (0-1023 values)
+- The standard Servo library is simpler to use than the ESP32 version
+- 5V power is more stable for servos compared to ESP32's 3.3V logic
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+- If movement is reversed, adjust the map() function values
+
+## ESP32 Code(Not fully Tested)
+-Slight modifications to the circuit must be made, Changing the pins for Joystick and Servo.
+```
+#include <ESP32Servo.h>
+
+// Create servo object
+Servo myservo;
+
+// Define pins
+const int joystickXPin = 1;  // Joystick X-axis
+const int servoPin = 46;      // Servo control pin
+
+// Variables
+int joystickValue;
+int servoAngle;
+
+void setup() {
+  // Initialize serial communication
+  Serial.begin(115200);
+
+
+  // Attach servo to pin
+  myservo.attach(servoPin, 500, 2400);
+}
+
+void loop() {
+  // Read joystick value (0-4095)
+  joystickValue = analogRead(joystickXPin);
+
+  // Map joystick value to servo angle (0-180)
+  servoAngle = map(joystickValue, 0, 1023, 0, 180);
+
+  // Control servo
+  myservo.write(servoAngle);
+
+  // Debug output
+  Serial.print("Joystick Value: ");
+  Serial.print(joystickValue);
+  Serial.print(" Servo Angle: ");
+  Serial.println(servoAngle);
+
+  // Small delay for stability
+  delay(15);
+}
+```