The electric motor is the fundamental building block of almost all robotic projects but, without some form of feedback, it lacks the precise positional control required for the task. Small servos from ...

Smart-encoder implementations abound. Some come with standard connectivity ports and networking capabilities (such as USB and EtherCAT) as well as open-source software compatibility. Others come with ...

Position encoders are sensors that, when used in industrial settings, produce critical motor information such as speed and position. The encoder delivers data for display or data that may serve as ...

In robotics, movements must be precise and well-controlled. As robots are asked to do more as industry becomes more familiar with the technology, there will be an increasing need for high accuracy ...

SICK has developed the SICK PGT-12-PRO, the world’s first hand-held programming tool for encoders and sensors with a CANopen interface. The battery-powered SICK PGT-12-PRO is a pocket-sized ...

Why are there so many different angle encoders on the market? Why do they use different scanning and measuring methods? And which one should a designer choose? To answer those questions, engineers at ...

Precisely tracking speed, acceleration, and position of a motor's rotor is an essential requirement for many motor control applications found in everyday equipment such as fax machines, elevators, and ...

Alignment of optical encoder commutation signals to a Brushless DC (BLDC) motor could be thought of as being comparable to timing the distributor on a car engine. The distributor tells the spark plugs ...

Rotary and linear optical encoders are common in position and motion sensing. Here, a disc or plate containing opaque and transparent segments passes between an LED and detector to interrupt a light ...

Encoders are a vital component in many applications that require motion control and feedback information. Whether a system’s requirement is speed, direction, or distance, an encoder produces control ...