3.1. Electric Motors

There are many different types of robots that have different levels of intelligence and mobility, but the common thread that you will find in almost every robot is a motor of some kind. An electric motor is used to convert electrical heat into rotational motion using a carefully arranged set of magnets and coil windings. By energizing the magnets with electricity, the coil winding spins—a motor typically has an output shaft attached to this magnet, so you can mount a wheel or gear on the end.

A motor has several ratings such as speed (RPM), voltage, amperage, and total power. We can usually determine whether or not a motor will suit our particular needs by combining the specifications that are important to our project. The speed in RPM of the motor gives us an idea of how fast it will be able to move, the voltage determines its potential power, and the watt rating tells us what combination of voltage and amperage we can use to power the motor without overheating it.