Configuring Bottango

Learn how to configure your project, assign servos, and get ready to animate.

Now that your servos are wired up and your board is connected, it’s time to configure Bottango so you can start animating.

🗂️ Step 1: Create a New Project

1. Open Bottango.
2. Click New Project.
3. Give your project a name (e.g., “Servo Test Rig”).
4. Choose a save location on your computer.
5. Click Create.

💾 Bottango projects are stored as .btproj files and contain all your servo assignments, motion data, and triggers.

🎚️ Step 2: Add a Servo to the Scene

1. In the main timeline view, click Add Servo.
2. A new servo object will appear in the left-hand panel.
3. Double-click the servo name to rename it (e.g., “Head”, “Arm”, “Wing”).

📌 Step 3: Assign a Pin to the Servo

1. Select the servo you just added.
2. In the Servo Settings panel (bottom left), choose the correct Board.
3. Select the Pin that the servo is connected to (e.g., D3 or GPIO14).
4. Set the Min and Max angles (e.g., 0–180).
5. Click Save.

🔄 You can test the servo by dragging the position slider — it should move in real time!

🔄 Step 4: Add More Servos (Optional)

Repeat the steps above for each additional servo in your setup. You can:

• Name them descriptively (e.g., “Left Arm”, “Tail”, “Jaw”)
• Assign each one to a unique pin
• Set motion ranges specific to your project

🧪 Test All Servos

Use the sliders or create a simple timeline keyframe to test each servo’s range of motion. This helps:

• Identify reversed servos
• Prevent mechanical overextension
• Verify proper wiring and power

🗒️ Servo Configuration Tips

• If the servo moves the wrong direction, you can invert it in the settings.
• Avoid using pins reserved for USB/Serial on some boards (e.g., D0/D1 on Arduino).
• Bottango supports up to 6 servos per board, depending on performance.

You’re now fully set up to animate!

Common Issues

Problem: Servo added but doesn’t appear in timeline

Solution: Check that you’ve saved the servo settings and that the project window is maximized. Try refreshing the timeline view

Why: Sometimes the UI needs to refresh to show newly added servos

Problem: Can’t select the correct pin in dropdown

Solution: Ensure your board is connected and recognized by Bottango. Go to Devices > Board Selection to verify connection

Why: Bottango only shows available pins for connected boards

Problem: Servo moves when slider changes but not during timeline playback

Solution: Make sure you’ve added keyframes to the timeline. Manual control works differently from animated playback

Why: Timeline playback requires keyframes - the servo follows programmed positions, not the slider

Problem: Servo calibration is off (90° position isn’t centered)

Solution: Adjust the PWM values in advanced servo settings:

• Typical range: Min PWM = 544µs, Max PWM = 2400µs
• Fine-tune these values until 90° is physically centered

Why: Different servo brands use slightly different PWM timing

Problem: Multiple servos assigned to same pin by mistake

Solution: Edit each servo’s settings and ensure each has a unique pin assignment. Bottango will warn you but won’t prevent it

Why: Two servos on one pin will both receive the same signal and move together

Problem: Project won’t save or keeps crashing

Solution:

1. Save to a location without special characters in path
2. Ensure you have write permissions to the folder
3. Check disk space

Why: File system issues can prevent Bottango from writing project files

Problem: Servo names disappeared or reset

Solution: Always save your project after making changes (Ctrl+S / Cmd+S). Bottango auto-saves but it’s good practice

Why: Unsaved changes are lost if Bottango closes unexpectedly

Next up: Creating Motion Sequences

< Previous Next >

You can use the arrows  ← → on your keyboard to navigate between lessons.