What is a Servo System?

[VonMason]

Servo system is an automatic control system that takes mechanical position or angle as the control object. The following is an introduction to the installation requirements and control methods of servo systems: Installation requirements of servo systems: The moment of inertia of servo motors used in electromechanical systems is relatively large, in order to be directly connected with mechanical components such as lead screws. There is a special type of small-inertia servo motor designed to achieve extremely high response speed. However, the overload capacity of this type of motor is low, so when used in feed servo systems, acceleration and deceleration devices must be added. Control methods of servo systems: Servo drives are divided from outside to inside into position loop, speed loop, and current loop according to their control objects. Accordingly, servo drives can operate in position control mode, speed control mode, and torque control mode.

[Declan]

I really enjoy studying servo systems when playing with RC models. Simply put, it's a precision control device consisting of a motor, sensors, and a controller. When you want the model airplane's aileron to rotate 15 degrees, the controller adjusts the motor's speed and torque in real-time based on sensor feedback to ensure perfect accuracy. When filming with drones, the gimbal stays stable without shaking thanks to the servo system making hundreds of micro-adjustments every second. Nowadays, even industrial robotic arms rely on it for precise part handling, steadier than human hands. However, the entire system has high requirements for electronic components - if rainwater gets into the sensors, it might lose control and crash into trees.

[McTanner]

Our workshop uses servo systems for automated production lines. Their biggest feature is obedience - the motor rotates exactly as much as the command instructs. Ordinary motors overshoot when starting and vibrate when stopping, but servo systems use angle sensors to feedback position deviations to the controller, which instantly corrects these deviations. I remember when debugging our first CNC machine tool, seeing the cutting tool controlled within a 0.01mm error margin - more precise than even a master craftsman's handiwork. Nowadays, even household robotic vacuum cleaners use miniature servo systems to automatically change direction when encountering obstacles.

[WilliamLee]

During the maintenance of servo motors, I found they consist of three core components: the actuator motor provides real-time power output, the sensor detects actual displacement, and the controller calculates the difference between the command and actual values to continuously correct motion accuracy. Simple systems like power windows that directly switch power on/off can only be considered open-loop systems, whereas true servo systems must form a feedback closed-loop. Modern servo drives are becoming increasingly intelligent, capable of storing hundreds of motion profiles. However, while a regular motor can simply be replaced when burnt out, servo system issues often require troubleshooting encoder signal lines or parameter settings.