Tag Archives: DC Motor

In this video lesson I will show you how you can control a remote DC motor using your Raspberry Pi Pico W. The Pi Pico is set up as a server, and is connected to a DC motor, and TA6586 Motor Controller. The motor is controlled by a client Python program running on your desktop PC. On the client side we create a Graphical Widget, which will allow you to control both the speed and direction of the motor. the schematic for the Raspberry Pi Pico W side is shown below:

Motor Controller — Schematic for TA6586 and Raspberry Pi Pico DC Motor Control

Then in the video, we developed the following software for the server side on the Pi Pico

import network
import usocket as socket
import secrets
import time
from machine import Pin, PWM
icPin1=Pin(14,Pin.OUT)
icPin2=Pin(15,Pin.OUT)
fPWM=PWM(icPin1)
rPWM=PWM(icPin2)
fPWM.freq(1000)
rPWM.freq(1000)

wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)
wlan.active(True)
wlan.connect(secrets.SSID,secrets.PASSWORD)

# Wait for connection
while not wlan.isconnected():
    time.sleep(1)
print("Connection Completed")
print('WiFi connected')
print(wlan.ifconfig())

# Set up UDP server
server_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
server_socket.bind((wlan.ifconfig()[0], 12345))
print("Server is Up and Listening")

while True:
    print('Waiting for a request from the client...')
    # Receive request from client
    request, client_address = server_socket.recvfrom(1024)
    request=request.decode()
    print("Client Request:",request)
    print("FROM CLIENT",client_address)
    cmdArray=request.split(',')
    motorState=cmdArray[0]
    speed=int(cmdArray[1])
    rPWM.duty_u16(0)
    fPWM.duty_u16(0)
    if motorState == 'O':
        rPWM.duty_u16(0)
        fPWM.duty_u16(0)
    if motorState == 'F':
        rPWM.duty_u16(0)
        fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
    if motorState == 'R':
        fPWM.duty_u16(0)
        rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
    # String to send
    data =request +" CMD PROCESSES+D"
    
    # Send data to client
    server_socket.sendto(data.encode(), client_address)
    print(f'Sent data to {client_address}')

import network

import usocket as socket

import secrets

import time

from machine import Pin, PWM

icPin1=Pin(14,Pin.OUT)

icPin2=Pin(15,Pin.OUT)

fPWM=PWM(icPin1)

rPWM=PWM(icPin2)

fPWM.freq(1000)

rPWM.freq(1000)

wlan = network.WLAN(network.STA_IF)

wlan.active(True)

wlan.connect(secrets.SSID,secrets.PASSWORD)

# Wait for connection

while not wlan.isconnected():

time.sleep(1)

print("Connection Completed")

print('WiFi connected')

print(wlan.ifconfig())

# Set up UDP server

server_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)

server_socket.bind((wlan.ifconfig()[0], 12345))

print("Server is Up and Listening")

while True:

print('Waiting for a request from the client...')

# Receive request from client

request, client_address = server_socket.recvfrom(1024)

request=request.decode()

print("Client Request:",request)

print("FROM CLIENT",client_address)

cmdArray=request.split(',')

motorState=cmdArray[0]

speed=int(cmdArray[1])

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

if motorState == 'O':

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

if motorState == 'F':

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

if motorState == 'R':

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

# String to send

data =request +" CMD PROCESSES+D"

# Send data to client

server_socket.sendto(data.encode(), client_address)

print(f'Sent data to {client_address}')

Then for the client side, the following program runs on Python on your PC:

import socket
import time
from PyQt5.QtWidgets import *
from PyQt5.QtCore import *
import sys
speedF=0
speedR=0
motorStatus='O'

# Set up UDP client
client_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)
client_socket.settimeout(1)
server_address = ('192.168.88.19', 12345)  # Adjust IP address and port as needed

app=QApplication(sys.argv)
window=QWidget()
window.setWindowTitle("Big Boss Motor Controller")
window.setGeometry(100,100,800,600)
mainLayout=QHBoxLayout(window)
leftLayout=QVBoxLayout()
rightLayout=QVBoxLayout()

def updateMotor():
    global motorStatus,speedF,speedR
    try:
        print(motorStatus)
        if motorStatus=='F':
            cmd=motorStatus+','+str(speedF)
        if motorStatus=='R':
            cmd=motorStatus+','+str(speedR)
        if motorStatus=='O':
            cmd=motorStatus+','+str(0)

        client_socket.sendto(cmd.encode(), server_address)
        data, addr = client_socket.recvfrom(1024)
        print('Received data:', data.decode())
        
    except:
        print("Server Did Not Respond, Try Again")


def updateForSpeed(value):
    global speedF
    speedF=value
    print(speedF)
def updateRevSpeed(value):
    global speedR
    speedR=value
    print(speedR)
def motorGo():
    global motorStatus
    motorStatus = 'F'
    print("GO")
def motorRev():
    global motorStatus
    motorStatus = 'R'
    print("REV")
def motorStop():
    global motorStatus
    motorStatus = 'O'
    print("STOP")


sliderLabelF=QLabel("Forward Speed")
sliderLabelF.setStyleSheet("font-size: 20px;")
leftLayout.addWidget(sliderLabelF)

sliderF=QSlider(Qt.Vertical)
sliderF.setMinimum(0)
sliderF.setMaximum(100)
sliderF.setValue(0)
sliderF.valueChanged.connect(updateForSpeed)
sliderF.setStyleSheet("QSlider::handle:vertical {background-color: rgb(0,255,0);}")
leftLayout.addWidget(sliderF)

sliderLabelR=QLabel("Forward Speed")
sliderLabelR.setStyleSheet("font-size: 20px;")
leftLayout.addWidget(sliderLabelR)

sliderR=QSlider(Qt.Vertical)
sliderR.setMinimum(0)
sliderR.setMaximum(100)
sliderR.setValue(0)
sliderR.valueChanged.connect(updateRevSpeed)
sliderR.setStyleSheet("QSlider::handle:vertical {background-color: rgb(0,0,255);}")
leftLayout.addWidget(sliderR)

greenButton=QPushButton("GO")
greenButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(0,255,0); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: black;")
blueButton=QPushButton("REVERSE")
blueButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(0,0,255); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: white;")
redButton=QPushButton("STOP")
redButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(255,0,0); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: black;")

greenButton.clicked.connect(motorGo)
rightLayout.addWidget(greenButton)

blueButton.clicked.connect(motorRev)
rightLayout.addWidget(blueButton)

redButton.clicked.connect(motorStop)
rightLayout.addWidget(redButton)

timer =QTimer()
timer.timeout.connect(updateMotor)
timer.start(200)

mainLayout.addLayout(leftLayout)
mainLayout.addLayout(rightLayout)
window.setLayout(mainLayout)
window.show()
sys.exit(app.exec_())

100

101

102

103

104

105

106

107

108

109

110

111

112

import socket

import time

from PyQt5.QtWidgets import *

from PyQt5.QtCore import *

import sys

speedF=0

speedR=0

motorStatus='O'

# Set up UDP client

client_socket = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_DGRAM)

client_socket.settimeout(1)

server_address = ('192.168.88.19', 12345) # Adjust IP address and port as needed

app=QApplication(sys.argv)

window=QWidget()

window.setWindowTitle("Big Boss Motor Controller")

window.setGeometry(100,100,800,600)

mainLayout=QHBoxLayout(window)

leftLayout=QVBoxLayout()

rightLayout=QVBoxLayout()

def updateMotor():

global motorStatus,speedF,speedR

try:

print(motorStatus)

if motorStatus=='F':

cmd=motorStatus+','+str(speedF)

if motorStatus=='R':

cmd=motorStatus+','+str(speedR)

if motorStatus=='O':

cmd=motorStatus+','+str(0)

client_socket.sendto(cmd.encode(), server_address)

data, addr = client_socket.recvfrom(1024)

print('Received data:', data.decode())

except:

print("Server Did Not Respond, Try Again")

def updateForSpeed(value):

global speedF

speedF=value

print(speedF)

def updateRevSpeed(value):

global speedR

speedR=value

print(speedR)

def motorGo():

global motorStatus

motorStatus = 'F'

print("GO")

def motorRev():

global motorStatus

motorStatus = 'R'

print("REV")

def motorStop():

global motorStatus

motorStatus = 'O'

print("STOP")

sliderLabelF=QLabel("Forward Speed")

sliderLabelF.setStyleSheet("font-size: 20px;")

leftLayout.addWidget(sliderLabelF)

sliderF=QSlider(Qt.Vertical)

sliderF.setMinimum(0)

sliderF.setMaximum(100)

sliderF.setValue(0)

sliderF.valueChanged.connect(updateForSpeed)

sliderF.setStyleSheet("QSlider::handle:vertical {background-color: rgb(0,255,0);}")

leftLayout.addWidget(sliderF)

sliderLabelR=QLabel("Forward Speed")

sliderLabelR.setStyleSheet("font-size: 20px;")

leftLayout.addWidget(sliderLabelR)

sliderR=QSlider(Qt.Vertical)

sliderR.setMinimum(0)

sliderR.setMaximum(100)

sliderR.setValue(0)

sliderR.valueChanged.connect(updateRevSpeed)

sliderR.setStyleSheet("QSlider::handle:vertical {background-color: rgb(0,0,255);}")

leftLayout.addWidget(sliderR)

greenButton=QPushButton("GO")

greenButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(0,255,0); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: black;")

blueButton=QPushButton("REVERSE")

blueButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(0,0,255); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: white;")

redButton=QPushButton("STOP")

redButton.setStyleSheet("background-color: rgb(255,0,0); border-radius: 50px; min-height: 100px; font-size: 20px; color: black;")

greenButton.clicked.connect(motorGo)

rightLayout.addWidget(greenButton)

blueButton.clicked.connect(motorRev)

rightLayout.addWidget(blueButton)

redButton.clicked.connect(motorStop)

rightLayout.addWidget(redButton)

timer =QTimer()

timer.timeout.connect(updateMotor)

timer.start(200)

mainLayout.addLayout(leftLayout)

mainLayout.addLayout(rightLayout)

window.setLayout(mainLayout)

window.show()

sys.exit(app.exec_())

Python, Raspberry Pi Pico

Control DC Motor With Raspberry Pi Pico W and TA6586

April 8, 2025 admin

In this video lesson we show you how you can control a small DC motor using the Raspberry Pi Pico W and a TA6586 DC Motor Controller. We show you how to control both the speed and direction. The schematic for the circuit we use is here:

In the lesson, we developed the following code for your convenience:

from machine import Pin,PWM
import time
icPin1=Pin(14,Pin.OUT)
icPin2=Pin(15,Pin.OUT)
fPWM=PWM(icPin1)
rPWM=PWM(icPin2)
fPWM.freq(1000)
rPWM.freq(1000)
try:
    while True:
        for speed in range(20,101,10):
            rPWM.duty_u16(0)
            fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
            time.sleep(.25)
        for speed in range(100,-1,-10):
            rPWM.duty_u16(0)
            fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
            print(int(speed/100*65535))
            time.sleep(.25)
        time.sleep(2)
        for speed in range(20,101,10):
            fPWM.duty_u16(0)
            rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
            time.sleep(.25)
        for speed in range(100,-1,-10):
            fPWM.duty_u16(0)
            rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))
            print(int(speed/100*65535))
            time.sleep(.25)
        time.sleep(2)
        
        
except KeyboardInterrupt:
    print("Program Stopped by User")
    rPWM.duty_u16(0)
    fPWM.duty_u16(0)
    time.sleep(.15)
    rPWM.deinit()
    fPWM.deinit()
    icPin1.off()
    icPin2.off()

from machine import Pin,PWM

import time

icPin1=Pin(14,Pin.OUT)

icPin2=Pin(15,Pin.OUT)

fPWM=PWM(icPin1)

rPWM=PWM(icPin2)

fPWM.freq(1000)

rPWM.freq(1000)

try:

while True:

for speed in range(20,101,10):

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

time.sleep(.25)

for speed in range(100,-1,-10):

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

print(int(speed/100*65535))

time.sleep(.25)

time.sleep(2)

for speed in range(20,101,10):

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

time.sleep(.25)

for speed in range(100,-1,-10):

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

rPWM.duty_u16(int(speed/100*65535))

print(int(speed/100*65535))

time.sleep(.25)

time.sleep(2)

except KeyboardInterrupt:

print("Program Stopped by User")

rPWM.duty_u16(0)

fPWM.duty_u16(0)

time.sleep(.15)

rPWM.deinit()

fPWM.deinit()

icPin1.off()

icPin2.off()

Arduino, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 40: Controlling DC Motor Speed and Direction with Pushbuttons

December 10, 2019 admin

In this lesson we explore how to control the speed and direction of a DC motor using two buttons. We are using the L293D motor controller and a small DC motor for demonstration purposes. We are using parts from our Elegoo Super Stater Kit, which you can get HERE. The basic circuit was explained in Lesson 37, and we are using that work as a starting point. The schematic below will get you started in connecting your circuit. Be sure and connect one of the Arduino ground pins to the ground rail in the second to the bottom row in the diagram below. It is good practice to connect all your grounds together.

Connection Diagram for a DC Motor Controller using the L293 Control Chip

The code we developed in the video lesson is shown below for your convenience.

int speedPin=5;
int dir1=4;
int dir2=3;
int BP1=8;
int BP2=9;
int B1Val;
int B2Val;
int mSpeed=0;
int dt=500;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);
pinMode(BP1,INPUT);
pinMode(BP2,INPUT);
digitalWrite(BP1, HIGH);
digitalWrite(BP2, HIGH);
Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
B1Val=digitalRead(BP1);
B2Val=digitalRead(BP2);
Serial.print("Motor Speed ");
Serial.println(mSpeed);

if (B1Val==0){
  mSpeed=mSpeed-10;
  delay(dt);
}
if (B2Val==0){
  mSpeed=mSpeed+10;
  delay(dt);
}
if (mSpeed>255){
  mSpeed=255;
}
if (mSpeed<-255){
  mSpeed=-255;
}
if (mSpeed==10){
  mSpeed=100;
}
if (mSpeed==-10){
  mSpeed=-100;
}
if (mSpeed==90 || mSpeed ==95){
  mSpeed=0;
}
if (mSpeed==-90 || mSpeed==-95){
  mSpeed=0;
}
if (mSpeed==0){
  analogWrite(speedPin,0);
}
if (mSpeed>0){
digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);
digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);
analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed); 
}
if (mSpeed<0){
digitalWrite(dir1,HIGH);
digitalWrite(dir2,LOW);
analogWrite(speedPin,abs(mSpeed)); 
}


}

int speedPin=5;

int dir1=4;

int dir2=3;

int BP1=8;

int BP2=9;

int B1Val;

int B2Val;

int mSpeed=0;

int dt=500;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);

pinMode(BP1,INPUT);

pinMode(BP2,INPUT);

digitalWrite(BP1, HIGH);

digitalWrite(BP2, HIGH);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

B1Val=digitalRead(BP1);

B2Val=digitalRead(BP2);

Serial.print("Motor Speed ");

Serial.println(mSpeed);

if (B1Val==0){

mSpeed=mSpeed-10;

delay(dt);

}

if (B2Val==0){

mSpeed=mSpeed+10;

delay(dt);

}

if (mSpeed>255){

mSpeed=255;

}

if (mSpeed<-255){

mSpeed=-255;

}

if (mSpeed==10){

mSpeed=100;

}

if (mSpeed==-10){

mSpeed=-100;

}

if (mSpeed==90 || mSpeed ==95){

mSpeed=0;

}

if (mSpeed==-90 || mSpeed==-95){

mSpeed=0;

}

if (mSpeed==0){

analogWrite(speedPin,0);

}

if (mSpeed>0){

digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);

digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);

analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);

}

if (mSpeed<0){

digitalWrite(dir1,HIGH);

digitalWrite(dir2,LOW);

analogWrite(speedPin,abs(mSpeed));

}

Arduino, Tutorial

Arduino Tutorial 37: Understanding How to Control DC Motors in Projects

November 19, 2019 admin

In this lesson we learn the ins and outs of controlling a DC Motor from an Arduino. A key aspect of this is to understand you must not connect a motor directly to an arduino. You need to either build a suitable transistor and diode circuit, or you need to utilize a motor controller, such as the L293D motor control chip.

The video below explains how to hook things up and how the code works. You must always be mindful that you are using a motor with current requirements that are consistent with the motor controller and power supply you are working with. Failure to do so could result in damage to components or injury.

The circuit used in this video tutorial is shown below:

It is a good practice to have all grounds connected in a circuit, so I would connect an arduino ground to the ground rail of the breadboard. The components used in this project are from the Elegoo starter kit, which you can pick up HERE. The code is described in the video, but if you need help, this is the code we used in the lesson.

int speedPin=5;
int dir1=4;
int dir2=3;
int mSpeed=90;

void setup() {
  // put your setup code here, to run once:
pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);
pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);
Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {
  // put your main code here, to run repeatedly:
digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);
digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);
analogWrite(speedPin,255);
delay(25);
analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);
delay(5000);
}

int speedPin=5;

int dir1=4;

int dir2=3;

int mSpeed=90;

void setup() {

// put your setup code here, to run once:

pinMode(speedPin,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir1,OUTPUT);

pinMode(dir2,OUTPUT);

Serial.begin(9600);

}

void loop() {

// put your main code here, to run repeatedly:

digitalWrite(dir1,LOW);

digitalWrite(dir2,HIGH);

analogWrite(speedPin,255);

delay(25);

analogWrite(speedPin,mSpeed);

delay(5000);

}

Technology Tutorials

Tag Archives: DC Motor

Remotely Control a DC Motor Over WiFi With Raspberry Pi Pico W

Control DC Motor With Raspberry Pi Pico W and TA6586

Arduino Tutorial 40: Controlling DC Motor Speed and Direction with Pushbuttons

Arduino Tutorial 37: Understanding How to Control DC Motors in Projects

Making The World a Better Place One High Tech Project at a Time. Enjoy!