Arduino – Multiple Servo Control with Joystick

In this tutorial, you will learn how to control two servo motors using a joystick module and an Arduino Uno R3. This project demonstrates how to translate joystick movement into precise servo positioning — perfect for building robotic arms, camera gimbals, or pan-and-tilt systems.

Components Required

• Arduino Uno R3
• 2 × SG90 Micro Servo Motors
• 1 × Joystick Module (XY + SW)
• Breadboard
• Jumper Wires
• 9V Battery (or external 5–6V power source for servos)

Understanding the Joystick Module

The joystick module consists of two potentiometers (for X and Y axes) and one momentary push button (SW).
Each potentiometer outputs an analog voltage between 0 and 5V, which Arduino reads as a value between 0 and 1023.

Circuit Connections

Power Setup

• Connect battery (+) to breadboard VCC line.
• Connect battery (–) to breadboard GND line.
• Connect Arduino GND to the breadboard GND line (common ground).

Servo Motor Connections

Note: Always use an external 5–6V regulated supply for multiple servos. Arduino’s onboard 5V pin is not designed to power several servos at once.

Joystick Connections

Arduino Code

// Add the Servo library
#include <Servo.h>

// Define our servos
Servo servo1;
Servo servo2;

// Define joystick analog pins
int joyX = A0;  // Joystick X-axis
int joyY = A1;  // Joystick Y-axis

// Variable to store joystick reading
int joyVal;

void setup() {
  // Attach servo control pins
  servo1.attach(3);
  servo2.attach(5);
}

void loop() {
  // Read X-axis value and map to servo range (0–180°)
  joyVal = analogRead(joyX);
  joyVal = map(joyVal, 0, 1023, 0, 180);
  servo1.write(joyVal);

  // Read Y-axis value and map to servo range (0–180°)
  joyVal = analogRead(joyY);
  joyVal = map(joyVal, 0, 1023, 0, 180);
  servo2.write(joyVal);

  delay(15); // Small delay for stable servo motion
}

Code Explanation

1. Servo Library:
   #include <Servo.h> allows Arduino to control servos using PWM signals automatically.
2. Analog Inputs:
   The joystick outputs analog signals from 0–5V on pins VRx and VRy, which are read by Arduino’s A0 and A1.
3. Mapping Values:
   map(value, 0, 1023, 0, 180) converts joystick readings into a range suitable for servo rotation (0°–180°).
4. Servo Movement:
   As you move the joystick, the servos rotate smoothly in response, mimicking the joystick’s direction.

Testing Steps

1. Upload the code to your Arduino Uno.
2. Power the circuit using a 5–6V battery or DC adapter.
3. Move the joystick:
   • Move left/right → controls Servo 1.
   • Move up/down → controls Servo 2.
4. Both servos will follow the joystick movement in real-time.

⚠️ Troubleshooting Tips

• If servos twitch or move erratically, use a separate power supply for them.
• Always connect grounds together (Arduino, Joystick, Servo, Battery).
• If movement is reversed, swap the mapping range:

joyVal = map(joyVal, 0, 1023, 180, 0);

If using a 9V battery, power only the servo VCC, not the Arduino directly (to avoid voltage regulator overheating).

Extensions

• Add the SW (button) pin to reset servos to the center position.
• Combine with an HC-SR04 ultrasonic sensor for obstacle-detection servo control.
• Expand to 4 servos using two joysticks for advanced robotic control.

Conclusion

You’ve successfully learned how to control multiple servos with a joystick using Arduino Uno R3.
This simple but powerful technique lays the foundation for robotic arm, camera gimbal, and RC controller projects.