Guide for Using the Mini I2C Motor Driver with the MKR WIFI 1010

3 min readNov 13, 2023

Using Mini I2c motor driver with MKR WIFI 1010

Introduction

In robotics and automation, precise motor control is a fundamental necessity. The Mini I2C Motor Driver, when combined with the versatile MKR WIFI 1010 board from Arduino, provides an efficient solution for controlling motors in various applications. This guide aims to equip you with the knowledge to integrate these two components.

Prerequisites

Hardware Setup

MKR WIFI 1010 to Mini I2C Motor Driver Connection

Connect the SDA (Serial Data Line) and SCL (Serial Clock Line) pins of the MKR WIFI 1010 to the corresponding SDA and SCL pins on the motor driver.
Ensure the power connections match the requirements of your motors.

Motor Connections

Attach the motors to the designated terminals on the motor driver.

Software Setup

Installing the Library

Download and install the library using → MKR_MINI_I2C_Libraray.
Open the Arduino IDE, go to Documents> Arduino> Libraries, and paste the downloaded folder.

Install the Board Package

In the Boards Manager, type “MKR WIFI 1010” into the search bar.
You will see an entry for the MKR WIFI 1010 board, which is usually part of a package like “Arduino SAMD Boards”.
Click the “Install” button next to the package description. This will install the board support package, which includes the necessary drivers and files.

Select Your Board

Connect your MKR WIFI 1010 to your computer using a USB cable.
Go to ‘Tools’ > ‘Port’ and select the port that your MKR WIFI 1010 is connected to. It should be labeled with the board’s name.
Click the “Install” button next to the package description. This will install the board support package, which includes the necessary drivers and files.

Select Your Port

Connect your MKR WIFI 1010 to your computer using a USB cable.
Go to ‘Tools’ > ‘Port’ and select the port that your MKR WIFI 1010 is connected to. It is normally labeled with the board’s name

Loading the Example Code

Copy the example code given below.

#include <Wire.h>
#include <SparkFunMiniMoto.h>

MiniMoto motor(0x60); 
MiniMoto motor1(0x65);
void setup() {
  Serial.begin(9600);
  Serial.println("MiniMoto Test");
  Wire.begin();
}

void loop() {
  byte fault = motor.getFault();
  if (fault) {
    Serial.print("Fault: ");
    Serial.println(fault, HEX);
  } else {
    Serial.println("Driving forward");
    motor.drive(100);
    motor1.drive(100);
    delay(1000);
    Serial.println("Driving Backward");
    motor.drive(-100);
    motor1.drive(-100);
    delay(1000);
    Serial.println("Stopping");
    motor.stop();
    motor1.stop();
    delay(1000);
  }
}

Uploading and Running the Code

Click `Upload` to compile and transfer the code to the board
Once uploaded, the motors should respond according to the programmed instructions.

Note: The sample code runs the two motors in one direction for 1 second, another direction in the next second, and stops for a second.

Demo Video

Demo_MKR.mp4

Edit description

drive.google.com

For further inquiries or suggestions, please feel free, to reach out:

- Email: kumarasenau@gmail.com

GitHub Repository: https://github.com/udarabs-1/MKR_I2C_driver

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