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Activating Servos Simultaneously

Former Member

Hello...I need help...and I don't think it is a difficult issue, but I just can't seem to get it yet.

 

I am trying to push a button that makes a servo move 90 degrees for 10 seconds, then turn back. I have this working fine. The problem happens when I try to do this for more than one servo.

 

I can make it work for two servos, but not while the first one is still counting off its 10 second period.

 

Here is my code...CAN SOMEONE GUIDE ME TO A SOLUTION?

 

/*

  SweepTwoServos

  By Philip van Allen <philvanallen.com> for the VarSpeedServo.h library (October 2013)

  This example code is in the public domain

*/

 

#include <VarSpeedServo.h>

 

VarSpeedServo myservo_1;            // create servo object to control a servo

VarSpeedServo myservo_2;            //a maximum of eight servo objects can be created

 

const int servoPin1 = 9;                     // the digital pin used for the first servo

const int servoPin2 = 10;                     // the digital pin used for the second servo

 

unsigned long startTime_1 = 0;     // will store last time servo was opened

unsigned long startTime_2 = 0;     // will store last time servo was opened

int valveOpenPeriod_1 = 10000;    // sets the period the servo should be opened - 10 seconds

int valveOpenPeriod_2 = 5000;     // sets the period the servo should be opened - 5 seconds

 

void setup() {

  myservo_1.attach(servoPin1);  // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object

  myservo_1.write(90,30,false);  // set the intial position of the servo, move slowly, run in background

  myservo_2.attach(servoPin2);  // attaches the servo on pin 10 to the servo object

  myservo_2.write(90,30,false);  // set the intial position of the servo, move slowly, run in background

}

 

void loop()

{

  unsigned long currentMillis = millis(); // start counting

 

  if(digitalRead(3) == HIGH)              // if inflation button is pushed

  {   

    startTime_1 = currentMillis;          // reset start time to current time

    while(millis() - startTime_1 < valveOpenPeriod_1)

    {

      myservo_1.write(180,30,false);   // tell servo to go to position 180 to open valve

      delay(10);                                    // waits 10ms for the servo to reach the position

    }

     myservo_1.write(90,30,false);     // tell servo to go to back to original position 90 to close valve

     delay(10);                                    // waits 10ms for the servo to reach the position

  }

 

/* THE PROBLEM

The two blocks of code, one above and one below, work independently but not simultaneously.

How do I get them to work simultaneously. In other words, I need each servo to move 90 degrees

for a period of time, then move back to its original position. I need this to work for

each servo whenever I press the putton.

*/

 

  if(digitalRead(5) == HIGH)              // if inflation button is pushed

  {   

    startTime_2 = currentMillis;           // reset start time to current time

    while(millis() - startTime_2 < valveOpenPeriod_2)

    {

      myservo_2.write(180,127,true);   // tell servo to go to position 180 to open valve

      delay(10);                               // waits 10ms for the servo to reach the position

    }

     myservo_2.write(90,127,true);    // tell servo to go to position 90 to close valve

     delay(10);                               // waits 10ms for the servo to reach the position

  }

}

Parents

  • I would like to comment here, that the concept you have could work with some tweaks.

     

    1. You only have a 10mSec timer using delay.

    2. The while statement is what is stopping it from leaving and doing the other things.

     

    You need to construct it using an if statement, and in my programming I often use a variable to know if I should do something or not. (I call it a flag but that's probably wrong)

    I don't think you need extra libraries, but you've done the right thing and proved each piece of your code works, but combined they don't.

     

    The Blinkwithoutdelay (stupid name) gives you the idea, but you are already using the millis() timer, and I find the example a little lacking as it's usually two tasks you want to do.

     

    Without loading it, you might try something like ....

        if ((millis() - startTime_1 < valveOpenPeriod_1) && Valve1Open == 1)

        {

          myservo_1.write(180,30,false);   // tell servo to go to position 180 to open valve

          delay(10);                                    // waits 10ms for the servo to reach the position

        }

    Obviously you'll need to set the Valve1Open = 1 or 0 as appropriate in your code.

     

     

    Mark

    edit ... minor typo.

Reply

  • I would like to comment here, that the concept you have could work with some tweaks.

     

    1. You only have a 10mSec timer using delay.

    2. The while statement is what is stopping it from leaving and doing the other things.

     

    You need to construct it using an if statement, and in my programming I often use a variable to know if I should do something or not. (I call it a flag but that's probably wrong)

    I don't think you need extra libraries, but you've done the right thing and proved each piece of your code works, but combined they don't.

     

    The Blinkwithoutdelay (stupid name) gives you the idea, but you are already using the millis() timer, and I find the example a little lacking as it's usually two tasks you want to do.

     

    Without loading it, you might try something like ....

        if ((millis() - startTime_1 < valveOpenPeriod_1) && Valve1Open == 1)

        {

          myservo_1.write(180,30,false);   // tell servo to go to position 180 to open valve

          delay(10);                                    // waits 10ms for the servo to reach the position

        }

    Obviously you'll need to set the Valve1Open = 1 or 0 as appropriate in your code.

     

     

    Mark

    edit ... minor typo.

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