Parallax Servo Controller (USB) simultaneous movement?

del_bianco

I want to buy the Parallax Servo Controller (USB) but I am wondering if it can control multiple servos simultaneously?

For instance, if I give servo 1 the instruction to move to pos X in 3 seconds, will this block access to all other servos until the instruction is completed? Or will I be able to continue instructing other servos while one or more others are busy?

If this is a stupid question, forgive me since I am a n00b at this

Mike Green

Yes, you can control multiple servos "simultaneously". While the servo controller is executing one servo command, you can send another and the controller will start on that one as well. The servos aren't really "busy". What happens is that you're setting up some parameters for each servo using the serial commands and the servo controller is executing all of them in a cycle stepwise. Every cycle, it's doing one step for servos 1 to 16, then starting another cycle. At the same time, it is receiving new information (or transmitting status information as requested).

del_bianco

Thank you for your clear explanation.

I already seemed very odd to me only one servo at a time could be controlled, but I wanted to know for sure.