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Is there any way to set up a servo with full control for a tricopter using a normal flight controller and normal drone parts? Are there any other things that I should use or consider?

This servo will be used to roll the rear motor (there will be two front motors). The prop size will probably be around 6-7'' so the servo will require a decent bit of power.

Essentially, I'm asking if a servo can be powered from a flight controller (does the flight controller have the ability to output 3a 5v) and can I control the servo? Are there only specific flight controllers that can output that?

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    $\begingroup$ Not sure there's enough context here. How will this servo be used and how is your tricopter going to be built/what is it going to look like? $\endgroup$
    – ifconfig ♦
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 20:35
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    $\begingroup$ @ifconfig I edited it to provide more clarification. $\endgroup$
    – Jacob B ♦
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 20:42

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This has likely been answered here: https://drones.stackexchange.com/a/230/50, but to paraphrase:

A standard flight controller can easily be set up to control a servo, as per your edit.

You first need to plug in your flight controller (with props off, if you’re using one with motors already attached) and enable ’servo tilt’ in the configuration tab, then go into the CLI.

You then need to type ‘resource’ (assuming you are on the latest version of Betaflight.)

As you want a tricopter and your flight controller is likely for a quadcopter at least, you can reassign a motor output (or any other PDB with a built-in timed) to become a servo output. If you don’t know how to re-map resources in Betaflight, the answer I have linked gives an excellent rundown.

You should then see a servo tab appear in Betaflight, and from there you should be able to configure everything you need.

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    $\begingroup$ Is 3.3v from the FC pads enough to trigger servo PWM trigger? $\endgroup$
    – ifconfig ♦
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 21:36
  • $\begingroup$ @ifconfig I’m not too familiar with servos, but I’d imagine it depends on what servo OP is using. If not then the flight controller probably has a 5 or 9V BEC, or they can run a separate BEC directly from VBAT. $\endgroup$
    – Drones and Whatnot
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 21:37
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    $\begingroup$ Well, in that case you'd need to employ an external MOSFET or BJT something like that to switch 5v from 3.3v, no? $\endgroup$
    – ifconfig ♦
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 21:38
  • $\begingroup$ @ifconfig like I say, I’m not too familiar with servos - as far as I know they have a V input, a gnd and a pwm input, so I thought you can power the servo from any voltage pad powerful enough $\endgroup$
    – Drones and Whatnot
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 21:40
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    $\begingroup$ Right, but most all switchable FC pads are driven to 3.3v. Only Buzzer+/- is 5v, but I'm not sure if it is usable for servos. Anyway, this is a fairly nuanced topic, especially because we have few hardware specifics. $\endgroup$
    – ifconfig ♦
    Commented Apr 22, 2020 at 21:42

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