Arduino - Potentiometer Triggers Servo Motor

In a previous tutorial, We have learned how to rotate servo motor according to the potentiometer's output value. In this tutorial, We are going to learn how to:

Hardware Required

1×Arduino UNO or Genuino UNO
1×USB 2.0 cable type A/B (for USB-A PC)
1×USB 2.0 cable type C/B (for USB-C PC)
1×Potentiometer
1×(Alternative) Potentiometer Kit
1×(Alternative) Potentiometer Module with Knob
1×Servo Motor
1×Jumper Wires
1×(Recommended) Screw Terminal Block Shield for Arduino Uno
1×(Recommended) Breadboard Shield For Arduino Uno
1×(Recommended) Enclosure For Arduino Uno

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.

About Servo Motor and Potentiometer

If you do not know about servo motor and potentiometer (pinout, how it works, how to program ...), learn about them in the following tutorials:

Wiring Diagram

Arduino Potentiometer Servo Motor Wiring Diagram

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

Arduino Code - Analog Threshold

/* * Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com * * This example code is in the public domain * * Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-potentiometer-triggers-servo-motor */ #include <Servo.h> // constants won't change const int POTENTIOMETER_PIN = A0; // Arduino pin connected to Potentiometer pin const int SERVO_PIN = 9; // Arduino pin connected to Servo Motor's pin const int ANALOG_THRESHOLD = 500; Servo servo; // create servo object to control a servo void setup() { servo.attach(SERVO_PIN); // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object servo.write(0); } void loop() { int analogValue = analogRead(POTENTIOMETER_PIN); // read the input on analog pin if(analogValue > ANALOG_THRESHOLD) servo.write(90); // rotate servo motor to 90 degree else servo.write(0); // rotate servo motor to 0 degree }

Quick Steps

  • Connect Arduino to PC via USB cable
  • Open Arduino IDE, select the right board and port
  • Copy the above code and open with Arduino IDE
  • Click Upload button on Arduino IDE to upload code to Arduino
  • Rotate the potentiometer
  • See the change of servo motor

Arduino Code - Voltage Threshold

Potentiometer's analog value is converted to voltage value, and then compared to voltage threshold to triggers servo motor

/* * Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com * * This example code is in the public domain * * Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-potentiometer-triggers-servo-motor */ #include <Servo.h> // constants won't change const int POTENTIOMETER_PIN = A0; // Arduino pin connected to Potentiometer pin const int SERVO_PIN = 9; // Arduino pin connected to Servo Motor's pin const float VOLTAGE_THRESHOLD = 2.5; // Voltages Servo servo; // create servo object to control a servo void setup() { servo.attach(SERVO_PIN); // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object servo.write(0); } void loop() { int analogValue = analogRead(POTENTIOMETER_PIN); // read the input on analog pin float voltage = floatMap(analogValue, 0, 1023, 0, 5); // Rescale to potentiometer's voltage if(voltage > VOLTAGE_THRESHOLD) servo.write(90); // rotate servo motor to 90 degree else servo.write(0); // rotate servo motor to 0 degree } float floatMap(float x, float in_min, float in_max, float out_min, float out_max) { return (x - in_min) * (out_max - out_min) / (in_max - in_min) + out_min; }

Video Tutorial

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Potentiometer and Servo Motor on Commercial Products

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