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Arduino - Control Servo Motor via Web
This tutorial will show you how to use an Arduino to control a servo motor from a web browser on your smartphone or PC. We'll utilize WebSocket technology to enable smooth and dynamic control of the servo motor through a graphical web user interface.
Now, why should we use WebSocket? Here’s why:
- Without WebSocket, every time you need to adjust the angle of the servo, you would have to refresh the webpage. This is not ideal.
- However, with WebSocket, we establish a dedicated connection between the webpage and the Arduino. This setup allows us to transmit the angle value to the Arduino in the background, without needing to reload the page. As a result, the servo operates smoothly and responds in real-time. Pretty impressive, right?
Let’s get started!
Hardware Required
Or you can buy the following sensor kits:
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (30 sensors/displays) | |
| 1 | × | DIYables Sensor Kit (18 sensors/displays) |
Disclosure: Some links in this section are Amazon affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Additionally, some links direct to products from our own brand, DIYables.
Additionally, some links direct to products from our own brand, DIYables.
About Servo Motor and WebSocket
We have specific tutorials about servo motor and WebSocket. Each tutorial contains detailed information and step-by-step instructions about hardware pinout, working principle, wiring connection to Arduino, Arduino code... Learn more about them at the following links:
- Arduino - Servo Motor tutorial
- Arduino - WebSocket tutorial
How It Works
The Arduino code sets up both a web server and a WebSocket server. Here's the step-by-step process:
- When you type the Arduino's IP address into a web browser, it sends a request for the webpage (User Interface) hosted on the Arduino.
- The Arduino's web server responds by sending back the content of the webpage (HTML, CSS, JavaScript).
- Your web browser then displays the webpage.
- The JavaScript code embedded in the webpage initiates a WebSocket connection with the WebSocket server on the Arduino.
- Once the WebSocket connection is active, if you adjust the handle on the webpage, the JavaScript code discreetly transmits the angle value to the Arduino via this WebSocket connection in the background.
- The WebSocket server on the Arduino, upon receiving this angle value, adjusts the servo motor accordingly.
In essence, the WebSocket connection facilitates smooth, real-time control of the servo motor's angle.
Wiring Diagram between Servo Motor and Arduino
This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image
For the sake of simplicity, the above wiring diagram is used for the testing or learning purposes, and for small-torque servo motor. In practice, we highly recommend using the external power supply for the servo motor. The below wiring diagram shows how to connect servo motor to an external power source.
Arduino Code
The webpage's content (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) are stored separately on an index.h file. So, we will have two code files on Arduino IDE:
- An .ino file that is Arduino code, which creates a web sever and WebSocket Server, and control servo motor
- An .h file, which contains the webpage's content.
Quick Steps
- If this is the first time you use Arduino Uno R4, see how to setup environment for Arduino Uno R4 on Arduino IDE.
- Do the wiring as above image.
- Connect the Arduino board to your PC via a micro USB cable
- Open Arduino IDE on your PC.
- Select the right Arduino board (e.g. Arduino Uno R4 WiFi) and COM port.
- Open the Library Manager by clicking on the Library Manager icon on the left navigation bar of Arduino IDE.
- Search “mWebSockets”, then find the mWebSockets created by Dawid Kurek.
- Click Install button to install mWebSockets library.
- On Arduino IDE, create new sketch, Give it a name, for example, ArduinoGetStarted.com.ino
- Copy the below code and open with Arduino IDE
/*
* Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com
*
* This example code is in the public domain
*
* Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-controls-servo-motor-via-web
*/
#include <Servo.h>
#include <WiFiS3.h>
#include <WebSocketServer.h>
#include "index.h"
using namespace net;
#define SERVO_PIN 9 // Arduino pin 9 connected to servo motor
Servo servo;
const char *ssid = "YOUR_WIFI_SSID"; // CHANGE IT
const char *password = "YOUR_WIFI_PASSWORD"; // CHANGE IT
WebSocketServer webSocket(81);
WiFiServer server(80);
int status = WL_IDLE_STATUS;
void setup() {
//Initialize serial and wait for port to open:
Serial.begin(9600);
servo.attach(SERVO_PIN); // attaches the servo on Arduino pin
String fv = WiFi.firmwareVersion();
if (fv < WIFI_FIRMWARE_LATEST_VERSION)
Serial.println("Please upgrade the firmware");
// attempt to connect to WiFi network:
while (status != WL_CONNECTED) {
Serial.print("Attempting to connect to SSID: ");
Serial.println(ssid);
// Connect to WPA/WPA2 network. Change this line if using open or WEP network:
status = WiFi.begin(ssid, password);
// wait 4 seconds for connection:
delay(4000);
}
// print your board's IP address:
Serial.print("IP Address: ");
Serial.println(WiFi.localIP());
server.begin();
webSocket.onConnection([](WebSocket &ws) {
const auto protocol = ws.getProtocol();
if (protocol) {
Serial.print(F("Client protocol: "));
Serial.println(protocol);
}
ws.onMessage([](WebSocket &ws, const WebSocket::DataType dataType,
const char *message, uint16_t length) {
switch (dataType) {
case WebSocket::DataType::TEXT:
{
String angle = String((char *)message);
int angle_value = angle.toInt();
servo.write(angle_value);
Serial.print(F("Rotate Servo Motor to "));
Serial.println(angle_value);
}
break;
case WebSocket::DataType::BINARY:
Serial.println(F("Received binary data"));
break;
}
});
ws.onClose([](WebSocket &, const WebSocket::CloseCode, const char *,
uint16_t) {
Serial.println(F("Disconnected"));
});
Serial.print(F("New WebSocket Connnection from client: "));
Serial.println(ws.getRemoteIP());
});
webSocket.begin();
}
void loop() {
webSocket.listen();
// listen for incoming clients
WiFiClient client = server.available();
if (client) {
// read the HTTP request header line by line
while (client.connected()) {
if (client.available()) {
String HTTP_header = client.readStringUntil('\n'); // read the header line of HTTP request
if (HTTP_header.equals("\r")) // the end of HTTP request
break;
Serial.print("<< ");
Serial.println(HTTP_header); // print HTTP request to Serial Monitor
}
}
// send the HTTP response header
client.println("HTTP/1.1 200 OK");
client.println("Content-Type: text/html");
client.println("Connection: close"); // the connection will be closed after completion of the response
client.println(); // the separator between HTTP header and body
String html = String(HTML_CONTENT);
client.println(html);
client.flush();
// give the web browser time to receive the data
delay(50);
// close the connection:
client.stop();
}
}
- Modify the WiFi information (SSID and password) in the code to match your own network credentials.
- Create the index.h file On Arduino IDE by:
- Either click on the button just below the serial monitor icon and choose New Tab, or use Ctrl+Shift+N keys.
- Give the file's name index.h and click OK button
- Copy the below code and paste it to the index.h.
- Now you have the code in two files: ArduinoGetStarted.com.ino and index.h
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
- Go to C:\Users\YOU_ACCOUNT\Documents\Arduino\libraries\mWebSockets\src/ directory.
- Find the config.h file and open it by a text editor.
- Look at the line 26, you will see it like below:
- Change this line to the below and save it:
- Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino.
- Open the Serial Monitor
- Check out the result on Serial Monitor.
- Take note of the IP address displayed, and enter this address into the address bar of a web browser on your smartphone or PC.
- You will see the webpage it as below:
- The JavaScript code of the webpage automatically creates the WebSocket connection to Arduino.
- Now you can control the servo motor's angle by rotating the motor's handle on the web interface.
- If you modify the HTML content in the index.h and does not touch anything in ArduinoGetStarted.com.ino file, when you compile and upload code to Arduino, Arduino IDE will not update the HTML content.
- To make Arduino IDE update the HTML content in this case, make a change in the ArduinoGetStarted.com.ino file (e.g. adding empty line, add a comment....)
/*
* Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com
*
* This example code is in the public domain
*
* Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-controls-servo-motor-via-web
*/
const char *HTML_CONTENT = R"=====(
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Arduino Controls Servo Motor via Web</title>
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=0.7">
<style>
body { text-align: center; }
canvas { background-color: #ffffff; }
</style>
<script>
var canvas_width = 401, canvas_height = 466;
var pivot_x = 200, pivot_y = 200;
var bracket_radius = 160, bracket_angle = 0;
var bracket_img = new Image();
var click_state = 0;
var last_angle = 0;
var mouse_xyra = {x:0, y:0, r:0.0, a:0.0};
var ws;
bracket_img.src = "https://esp32io.com/images/tutorial/servo-bracket.png";
function init()
{
var servo = document.getElementById("servo");
servo.width = canvas_width;
servo.height = canvas_height;
servo.style.backgroundImage = "url('https://esp32io.com/images/tutorial/servo-body.png')";
servo.style.backgroundPosition = "center";
servo.style.backgroundSize = "contain";
servo.addEventListener("touchstart", mouse_down);
servo.addEventListener("touchend", mouse_up);
servo.addEventListener("touchmove", mouse_move);
servo.addEventListener("mousedown", mouse_down);
servo.addEventListener("mouseup", mouse_up);
servo.addEventListener("mousemove", mouse_move);
var ctx = servo.getContext("2d");
ctx.translate(pivot_x, pivot_y);
rotate_bracket(0);
ws = new WebSocket("ws://" + window.location.host + ":81");
document.getElementById("ws_state").innerHTML = "CONNECTING";
ws.onopen = function(){ document.getElementById("ws_state").innerHTML = "CONNECTED" };
ws.onclose = function(){ document.getElementById("ws_state").innerHTML = "CLOSED"};
ws.onerror = function(){ alert("websocket error " + this.url) };
ws.onmessage = ws_onmessage;
}
function ws_onmessage(e_msg)
{
e_msg = e_msg || window.event; // MessageEvent
alert("msg : " + e_msg.data);
}
function rotate_bracket(angle)
{
var servo = document.getElementById("servo");
var ctx = servo.getContext("2d");
ctx.clearRect(-pivot_x, -pivot_y, canvas_width, canvas_height);
ctx.rotate(angle / 180 * Math.PI);
ctx.drawImage(bracket_img, -pivot_x, -pivot_y);
ctx.rotate(-angle / 180 * Math.PI);
}
function check_range_xyra(event, mouse_xyra)
{
var x, y, r, a, rc_x, rc_y, radian;
var min_r, max_r, width;
if(event.touches)
{
var touches = event.touches;
x = (touches[0].pageX - touches[0].target.offsetLeft) - pivot_x;
y = pivot_y - (touches[0].pageY - touches[0].target.offsetTop);
min_r = 60;
max_r = pivot_x;
width = 40;
}
else
{
x = event.offsetX - pivot_x;
y = pivot_y - event.offsetY;
min_r = 60;
max_r = bracket_radius;
width = 20;
}
/* cartesian to polar coordinate conversion */
r = Math.sqrt(x * x + y * y);
a = Math.atan2(y, x);
mouse_xyra.x = x;
mouse_xyra.y = y;
mouse_xyra.r = r;
mouse_xyra.a = a;
radian = bracket_angle / 180 * Math.PI;
/* rotate coordinate */
rc_x = x * Math.cos(radian) - y * Math.sin(radian);
rc_y = x * Math.sin(radian) + y * Math.cos(radian);
if((r < min_r) || (r > max_r))
return false;
if((rc_y < -width) || (rc_y > width))
return false;
return true;
}
function mouse_down()
{
if(event.touches && (event.touches.length > 1))
click_state = event.touches.length;
if(click_state > 1)
return;
if(check_range_xyra(event, mouse_xyra))
{
click_state = 1;
last_angle = mouse_xyra.a / Math.PI * 180.0;
}
}
function mouse_up()
{
click_state = 0;
}
function mouse_move()
{
var angle;
if(event.touches && (event.touches.length > 1))
click_state = event.touches.length;
if(click_state > 1)
return;
if(!click_state)
return;
if(!check_range_xyra(event, mouse_xyra))
{
click_state = 0;
return;
}
angle = mouse_xyra.a / Math.PI * 180.0;
if((Math.abs(angle) > 90) && (angle * last_angle < 0))
{
if(last_angle > 0)
last_angle = -180;
else
last_angle = 180;
}
bracket_angle += (last_angle - angle);
last_angle = angle;
if(bracket_angle > 90)
bracket_angle = 90;
if(bracket_angle < -90)
bracket_angle = -90;
rotate_bracket(bracket_angle);
if(ws.readyState == 1)
ws.send(Math.floor(90 - bracket_angle) + "\r\n");
debug = document.getElementById("debug");
debug.innerHTML = Math.floor(90 - bracket_angle);
event.preventDefault();
}
window.onload = init;
</script>
</head>
<body>
<h2>
Arduino - Servo Motor via Web<br>
<canvas id="servo"></canvas>
<p>
WebSocket : <span id="ws_state" style="color:blue">null</span><br>
Angle : <span id="debug" style="color:blue">90</span>
</p>
</h2>
<div class="sponsor">Sponsored by <a href="https://amazon.com/diyables">DIYables</a></div>
</body>
</html>
)=====";
You will see an error like below:
In file included from c:\Users\YOU_ACCOUNT\Documents\Arduino\libraries\mWebSockets\src/utility.h:3:0,
from c:\Users\YOU_ACCOUNT\Documents\Arduino\libraries\mWebSockets\src/WebSocket.h:5,
from c:\Users\YOU_ACCOUNT\Documents\Arduino\libraries\mWebSockets\src/WebSocketServer.h:5,
from C:\Users\YOU_ACCOUNT\Documents\Arduino\ArduinoGetStarted.com\ArduinoGetStarted.com.ino:2:
C:\Users\YOU_ACCOUNT\Documents\Arduino\libraries\mWebSockets\src/platform.h:54:12: fatal error: Ethernet.h: No such file or directory
# include <Ethernet.h>
^~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
exit status 1
To fix this error:
#define NETWORK_CONTROLLER ETHERNET_CONTROLLER_W5X00
#define NETWORK_CONTROLLER NETWORK_CONTROLLER_WIFI
COM6
Connecting to WiFi...
Connected to WiFi
Arduino Web Server's IP address IP address: 192.168.0.2
Autoscroll
Clear output
9600 baud
Newline
To save the memory of Arduino, the images of servo motor are NOT stored on Arduino. Instead, they are stored on the internet, so, your phone or PC need to have internet connection to load images for the web control page.
※ NOTE THAT:
Line-by-line Code Explanation
The above Arduino code contains line-by-line explanation. Please read the comments in the code!