A servo is a type of motor that can rotate to specific angles, providing precise control over the movement. Servos are widely used in robotics for tasks like steering, positioning, and lifting objects. In this lesson, you will learn about the unique features and functions of servos and how they differ from regular motors.

While both motors and servos are used to create movement in robotics, they have some key differences. Motors continuously rotate, while servos rotate to specific angles and hold their position. Servos also have built-in feedback mechanisms, allowing them to maintain their position even when external forces are applied.

There are two main types of servos: positional and continuous rotation servos. Positional servos can rotate to a specific angle and hold their position, while continuous rotation servos can rotate continuously in either direction at variable speeds. In this lesson, we will focus on positional servos, as they are more commonly used in robotics.

A servo consists of several components, including a motor, a gearbox, a potentiometer, and a control circuit. The motor provides the power to rotate the servo, the gearbox reduces the speed and increases the torque, the potentiometer measures the servo's position, and the control circuit interprets the input signal and adjusts the servo's position accordingly.

Servos are controlled using a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal. The duration of the signal's high pulse determines the angle to which the servo rotates. For example, a 1ms high pulse may cause the servo to rotate to 0 degrees, while a 2ms high pulse may cause it to rotate to 180 degrees. The exact relationship between pulse duration and servo angle varies between servo models.