Blue Robotics Tutorial: Controlling an ESC with an Arduino and a Potentiometer

In this tutorial, we'll show you how to use an Arduino and potentiometer to control the speed of a brushless motor like our T200 Thruster.

[viktorkarlsohn]

Mine did not work. I kept going over the wiring and code. Really made me scratch my head. This morning thought that I would try again. As I was staring at it, I heard a noise that made me jump out of my chair. It was WORKING! I was not waiting the full 7 second delay. Thank you! OBTW: One can discard the pot by connecting 3.3V pin directly to the A0 pin.

[ohnonotthevampire]

Fully technical and to the point. Wish all robotic tutorials were like your channel man. Keep it up!

[pramodnishant]

Awesome simplified explanation. First time using ESC, it does not say which wire is what. Your video helped me understand that and more. :)

[electroctgon]

Thank you so much! This is the first tutorial that helped me :)

[tomjoad]

thank you for the video. I am trying to make nRF24 controlled boat (drone), and need a "reverse" function on the motor, controlled through ESC. I think I may get an idea of how to do it from your video.

[TRAZExYT]

Can i power up an ardiuno using bec(gnd and +ve to ardiuno 5v and gnd) and also connect a 11.1v 2.6ah battery into ardiuno vin and gnd at the same time or is it bad for the ardiuno like burning up?

[adamjacobmoro]

Great vid! One question, why do the values that the arduino reads from the pot range from zero to 1023? Is this dependent on the value of the pot?

[davidhyland]

How would you change this code to make the thruster be able to reverse?

[nickdavis]

Could I have more precision speed control of I go to a 20k, multi turn pot instead of the 10k? I'm trying to find my EDFs lowest point of operation.

[nightleo]

I've tried connecting 2 thrusters to an arduino, but they don't spin. If I tell the arduino to only spin one of the two motors, it spins, but as soon as I try to spin them simultaneously, it doesn't work. Is it even possible for multiple thrusters to spin simultaneously? If so, how do we do it?

[thcder]

I Have a question about values you passed in function map()
Why did you pass, 0,1023,1100,1900 i mean why these values and is these values can be determine by brushless motor kv or by esc because if i have different motor and different esc how can i put a values are compitable with mine

[brsrc]

How do I wire a regular RC ESC to work with the transmitter and potentiometer feedback like a small servo controller? Basically I want to use an ESC to control a large motor for a custom servo.

[Alexisger]

What are the specs of the battery? Also there is no need for battery protection? And how you power Arduino? I mean when not connect it to usb

[jodrafting]

is this doing forward and reverse or do I have to split the reading and map accordingly

[underlecht]

Perfect explanation, thanks. I like your setup of connecting things, so you can plug-&-play with peripherals (no need to solder the battery). I wonder, could such setup be used in real device? Or all these intermediate things add noise/resistance, and can only be used in building proof of concept?

[fredbarnes]

How do you know what the thruster min/max values are for the map function?

[StolenPopcatBen]

how could i power this without a battery

[AbinetGebriel-ex]

How to control only use ecs and servo controler

[mehmetumitack]

The motor only increases to the speed we entered momentarily, then turns slowly at a constant speed again. It repeats this in short periods. What would be the reason?

[brsrc]

why is the Arduino needed? Wouldn't the speed control work with the potentiometer if you just plug the potentiometer directly into the three prong that would normally go to a receiver?