For a wheel robot project using RPLidar A1 and The Better Navigator skill in ARC, the choice of motor will depend on your specific requirements for precision, control, and feedback. Here's a brief overview of each motor type you've mentioned:

1. DC Motor with PWM: DC motors with Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) control can offer variable speed and direction. They are commonly used in robotics for their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. However, they typically require an H-bridge or motor driver to control the speed and direction, and they do not provide positional feedback unless you add encoders.

2. DYNAMIXEL XL430-W250-T: This is a smart servo from Robotis that offers high precision and control. It includes positional feedback, speed control, and torque control. DYNAMIXEL servos are often used in robotics for applications that require complex movements and accurate positioning. They can be daisy-chained and controlled via a digital packet-based instruction set.

3. Continuous Servo: A continuous rotation servo is a modified version of a standard servo that can rotate continuously while still being controlled by the standard servo PWM signal. They are easier to control than DC motors since they use the same control signal as a standard servo, but they do not provide positional feedback.

Regarding compatibility with The Better Navigator skill, all three motor types can be used to move your robot. However, the choice of motor may affect the precision and effectiveness of the navigation:

• If you require precise control and feedback for complex navigation tasks, the DYNAMIXEL XL430-W250-T would be the best choice due to its smart capabilities and feedback system.
• For simpler applications where positional feedback is not critical, a continuous servo could be a good balance between ease of use and functionality.
• A DC motor with PWM could be suitable for basic movement but would require additional components (like encoders) for positional feedback, which is important for accurate navigation with The Better Navigator.

Keep in mind that The Better Navigator skill will work with any Movement Panel that you configure in ARC. If you choose DC motors or continuous servos, you may need to use an HBridge or Motor Driver movement panel. If you opt for DYNAMIXEL servos, you would use the appropriate DYNAMIXEL movement panel.

Ultimately, the best motor for your wheel robot will depend on your specific requirements for precision, feedback, and the complexity of the navigation tasks you want to perform.

@Athena AI

So, for DYNAMIXEL XL430-W250-T what is motor driver needed?, I will use LattePanda as the main board.

The DYNAMIXEL XL430-W250-T smart servo by Robotis does not require a traditional motor driver like those used with DC motors. Instead, it operates using a digital packet-based communication protocol called TTL (Transistor-Transistor Logic) Half-Duplex Serial Communication.

To control the DYNAMIXEL XL430-W250-T with a LattePanda board, you will need the following:

1. U2D2 or USB2DYNAMIXEL Adapter: This is a device that converts USB to TTL serial communication, which is necessary for interfacing the DYNAMIXEL servos with a computer or microcontroller like the LattePanda.

2. DYNAMIXEL SDK: Robotis provides a software development kit (SDK) that includes libraries and examples for controlling their servos. This SDK can be used to develop custom applications or integrate the servos with existing software.

3. Power Supply: DYNAMIXEL servos require a stable power supply that matches their voltage requirements. The XL430-W250-T operates at 11.1V, so ensure your power supply can provide this voltage at an adequate current level.

4. Daisy Chain Cables: These cables are used to connect multiple DYNAMIXEL servos in a daisy chain configuration, allowing you to control several servos with a single communication line.

5. ARC Support: Ensure that the ARC software supports the DYNAMIXEL servos. Synthiam provides robot skills for controlling DYNAMIXEL servos, which you can add to your ARC project.

Once you have the U2D2 adapter connected to the LattePanda and the servos, you can use the ARC software to add the DYNAMIXEL servo control skill to your project. This skill will allow you to control the servos directly from the ARC interface without the need for a separate motor driver.

Remember to configure the LattePanda's onboard Arduino Leonardo to communicate with the U2D2 adapter if necessary, and ensure that the ARC software is set up to communicate with the DYNAMIXEL servos using the correct COM port and baud rate.

U2D2 Adapter or OpenRB-150?

To avoid Athena from responding to every comment, you have to tag her in the response. Otherwise she won’t see it.

But I can answer your question quickly. Robotis sells little usb adapters that connects the servo to the pc via usb.

Once that’s done, you can use the dynamixel robot skill. It allows the servos to be specified as continuous rotation. Once you get that added, you’ll need the continuous rotation servo movement panel.

To add more. The dynamixel robot skill is a servo driver and not a movement panel. The Movement Panel that will use the dynamixel is the continuous rotation. It’ll give you very perscise control so the robot moves straight. There is a tutorial video on using that exact setup in the better navigator robot skill manual.

@athena wanna summarize my last few repnoses please?

Certainly! To control DYNAMIXEL XL430-W250-T servos with a LattePanda board, you will need a U2D2 adapter or a similar USB adapter that Robotis provides. This adapter converts USB to TTL serial communication, allowing the servos to be interfaced with the computer. The DYNAMIXEL robot skill in ARC acts as a servo driver, enabling control of the servos, including setting them up for continuous rotation.

For movement, you will use the Continuous Rotation servo Movement Panel in ARC, which provides precise control and ensures the robot moves straight. There's a tutorial video available in The Better Navigator robot skill manual that guides you through this setup process.

@DJ Sures Thanks for your answer, I will order OpenRB-150 By the way, I watched some of your videos on YouTube and after that video, I came here and subscribed to ARC Pro, so please make new videos

Thanks! I’ve been asked to make more videos often - so I don’t have a good excuse not too. Maybe that’ll be my New Year’s resolution

@DJ Sures

Without exaggeration, you are the only one on YouTube who has simplified the construction of the robot... Please continue. Best of luck to you and a Happy New Year to you and all ARC makers and subscribers.