servo

Everyday

1. A servo (short for servomotor) is a small motor that can turn to an exact position and hold it, used in robots, remote-control cars and planes and models. tree →
2. (Australia, informal) A servo is a petrol station, short for «service station». tree →

In the lessons

In computing, robotics and design and technology lessons, pupils program a servo with a micro:bit or Arduino to move a robot arm, open a gate or wave a flag to an exact angle, such as 90 degrees. In Australian everyday talk, you stop at the servo for petrol, snacks and a drink on a road trip. Phrases: servo motor, turn the servo to 90 degrees, stop at the servo (Australia).

Examples

• We programmed the servo to turn to 90 degrees. tree →
• The robot's arm moves with two servos. tree →
• The remote-control plane uses servos to move its wings. tree →
• Our servo buzzed but would not turn because a wire was loose. tree →
• (Australia) Let's stop at the servo for a pie. tree →
• (Australia) Dad filled up the car at the servo. tree →
• A servo can move to an exact angle, but a normal motor just spins. tree →
• The servo opened the little door of our model house. tree →

Note

Countable: a servo, servos. Pronounced «SER-voh». It is a short, clipped form: servomotor (robotics) or service station (Australian slang). In robotics maths, the servo's position is measured in degrees, usually from 0 to 180. Australian slang often clips words with -o: servo, arvo (afternoon), bottle-o (bottle shop).