Using a Rotary Potentiometer to Detect the Position of a Robotic Arm

... Using a Rotary Potentiometer to Detect the Position of a Robotic Arm Plan: A rotary variable resistor would be set up as shown mechanically and electronically: Various different fixed resistors would be tried, with several readings taken for each. I suggest 9 readings should be taken, every twenty degrees starting at 20 for each resistor. That way, a full range of angles can be tried along the whole movement of the arm. Once the results have been obtained, then graphs can be plotted to calibrate the sensor, and from these graphs the most suitable resistor can be chosen for the sensor involved. Initial experiments show that all readings will be in the range of 0 to 5 volts. Results: Voltage across sensor (V) Resistor Used in Potential Divider (ohms) Degrees 100 220 470 1000 2200 4700 10000 0 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 20 0.35 0.17 0.08 0.04 0.02 0.01 0.00 40 3.14 2.32 1.48 0.86 0.44 0.21 0.11 60 3.98 3.45 2.68 1.84 1.07 0.57 0.29 80 4.23 3.82 3.17 2.36 1.50 0.84 0.44 100 4.42 4.10 3.60 2.87 1.96 1.17 0.64 120 4.46 4.22 3.78 3.13 2.24 1.39 0.79 140 4.51 4.29 3.99 3.31 2.45 1.59 0.92 160 4.57 4.39 4.06 3.50 2.67 1.78 1.05 180 4.60 4.43 4.15 3.65 2.88 1.98 1.22 200 4.65 4.52 4.28 3.82 3.09 2.18 1.37 220 4.68 4.56 4.32 3.90 3.20 2.30 1.48 240 4.71 4.60 4.38 3.99 3.31 2.42 1.57 260 4.73 4.62 4.41 4.05 3.40 2.53 1.67 280 4.73 4.62 4.42 4.05 3.41 2.55 1.69 300 4.70 4.59 4.38 4.02 3.38 2.53 1.67 I took three sets of results. They were all exceptionally similar. As such, they have been compiled into one single table, which is the average of

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