I'm planning to build this light following microbot:
https://www.winnipegrobotics.com/Projects/How It Works - Coke Can Robot.pdf
basically it uses 4 photocells. These are fed into two comparators, the outputs fed into two 556's which then drive the motors.
According to the author the 556 is used for for its comparator, flip-flop, and its ability to source or sink up to 200mA of motor current.
I'm very new at this and I don't quite understand why I can't drive the motors directly from the comparator outputs. From what I understand the outputs will be either 7.5V or 0V. Enough to drive a mall hobby motor?
I guess I'm not sure what s meant by "source or sink 200ma".
Thanks
Marc
https://www.winnipegrobotics.com/Projects/How It Works - Coke Can Robot.pdf
basically it uses 4 photocells. These are fed into two comparators, the outputs fed into two 556's which then drive the motors.
According to the author the 556 is used for for its comparator, flip-flop, and its ability to source or sink up to 200mA of motor current.
I'm very new at this and I don't quite understand why I can't drive the motors directly from the comparator outputs. From what I understand the outputs will be either 7.5V or 0V. Enough to drive a mall hobby motor?
I guess I'm not sure what s meant by "source or sink 200ma".
Thanks
Marc