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Arduino - Servo Motor controlled by Potentiometer

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

Hardware Required

1	×	Arduino UNO or Genuino UNO
1	×	USB 2.0 cable type A/B
1	×	Servo Motor
1	×	Potentiometer
1	×	Jumper Wires
1	×	(Optional) 9V Power Adapter for Arduino
1	×	(Optional) Screw Terminal Block Shield for Arduino

One of the following breadboard:

1	×	Full-sized 830-Point Breadboard
1	×	Half-sized 400-point Breadboard
1	×	Mini-sized 170-point Breadboard
1	×	All-sized Breadboard Kit

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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

This image is created using Fritzing. Click to enlarge image

How To Program

Reads the value of the potentiometer (value between 0 and 1023)

int analogValue = analogRead(A0);

Scales it to angle (value between 0 and 180)

int angle = map(analogValue, 0, 1023, 0, 180);

Sets the servo position according to the angle

myServo.write(angle);

Arduino Code

/* * Created by ArduinoGetStarted.com * * This example code is in the public domain * * Tutorial page: https://arduinogetstarted.com/tutorials/arduino-servo-motor-controlled-by-potentiometer */ #include <Servo.h> Servo myServo; // create servo object to control a servo void setup() { // initialize serial communication at 9600 bits per second: Serial.begin(9600); myServo.attach(9); // attaches the servo on pin 9 to the servo object } void loop() { // reads the value of the potentiometer (value between 0 and 1023) int analogValue = analogRead(A0); // scales it to use it with the servo (value between 0 and 180) int angle = map(analogValue, 0, 1023, 0, 180); // sets the servo position according to the scaled value myServo.write(angle); // print out the value Serial.print("Analog: "); Serial.print(analogValue); Serial.print(", Angle: "); Serial.println(angle); delay(100); }

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

Open Serial Monitor
Rotate the potentiometer
See the servo motor's rotation
See the result on Serial Monitor

COM6

Send

Analog: 0, Angle: 0 Analog: 85, Angle: 14 Analog: 201, Angle: 35 Analog: 286, Angle: 50 Analog: 370, Angle: 65 Analog: 444, Angle: 78 Analog: 521, Angle: 91 Analog: 608, Angle: 106 Analog: 690, Angle: 121 Analog: 793, Angle: 139 Analog: 907, Angle: 159 Analog: 1023, Angle: 180 Analog: 1023, Angle: 180

Autoscroll Show timestamp

Clear output

9600 baud

Newline

Code Explanation

Read the line-by-line explanation in comment lines of source code!

Video Tutorial

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Alternative Servo Motors

The above code also works with the following servo motors:

MG996R - Metal Gear Torque Servo Motor for high weight application
SG90 Micro Servo Motor for low weight application
And other standard servo motors

Alternative Potentiometers

The above code also works with the following rotary angle sensors:

Servo Motor on Commercial Products

Robotic Arm Kit for Arduino

Potentiometer on Commercial Products

Digital Oscilloscope

Function References

The Best Arduino Starter Kit

See the best Arduino kit for beginner

Arduino - Servo Motor controlled by Potentiometer

Hardware Required

About Servo Motor and Potentiometer

Wiring Diagram

How To Program

Arduino Code

Quick Steps

Code Explanation

Video Tutorial

Alternative Servo Motors

Alternative Potentiometers

Servo Motor on Commercial Products

Potentiometer on Commercial Products

Function References

The Best Arduino Starter Kit

See Also