Motor Control Lab: Two Motors, Simultaneous Start

In the realm of electrical engineering and robotics, motor control plays a pivotal role. This lab experiment delves into the intricacies of motor control, specifically focusing on achieving the simultaneous start of two motors. By understanding the principles and techniques involved, we gain valuable insights into controlling multiple motors in a coordinated manner, which is crucial for various applications.

Objective:

The objective of this lab is to design and implement a circuit that enables the simultaneous start of two DC motors. We aim to achieve this by utilizing a microcontroller, which acts as the brains of the operation, and a set of transistors that serve as switches to control the power flow to the motors.

Materials:

Microcontroller (e.g., Arduino)
DC Motors (2)
Transistors (2)
Resistors (2)
Breadboard
Jumper Wires
Power Supply

Circuit Diagram:

The circuit diagram below illustrates the connections between the components:

Procedure:

Connect the DC motors to the breadboard, ensuring that the positive and negative terminals are properly aligned.
Connect the transistors to the breadboard, with the base of each transistor connected to a digital output pin of the microcontroller.
Connect the collectors of the transistors to the positive terminals of the DC motors.
Connect the emitters of the transistors to the negative terminals of the DC motors.
Connect resistors between the collectors and emitters of the transistors to limit the current flow.
Connect the positive and negative terminals of the power supply to the breadboard.

Code:

The following code snippet demonstrates how to program the microcontroller to control the motors:

// Define the digital output pins for the motors
const int motor1Pin = 2;
const int motor2Pin = 3;

void setup() {
  // Set the digital output pins as outputs
  pinMode(motor1Pin, OUTPUT);
  pinMode(motor2Pin, OUTPUT);
}

void loop() {
  // Turn on both motors simultaneously
  digitalWrite(motor1Pin, HIGH);
  digitalWrite(motor2Pin, HIGH);
  delay(2000); // Wait for 2 seconds

  // Turn off both motors
  digitalWrite(motor1Pin, LOW);
  digitalWrite(motor2Pin, LOW);
  delay(2000); // Wait for 2 seconds
}

Results:

When the code is uploaded to the microcontroller, the two motors will start simultaneously, as instructed in the code. The motors will run for 2 seconds, then stop for 2 seconds, and repeat this cycle indefinitely. This demonstrates the ability to control the motors in a synchronized manner.

Conclusion:

This lab experiment provides a hands-on understanding of motor control techniques, specifically the simultaneous start of two motors. By utilizing a microcontroller and transistors, we successfully implemented a circuit that achieved the desired outcome. This knowledge is applicable to various fields, including robotics, automation, and industrial control systems.

Motor Control Lab: Two Motors, Simultaneous Start