I need to know what a servo is and how to attach it to the robot were building any help?

Question

for BEST robotics

Answer 1

for BEST they appear to be using futaba servos. the servo ouput shaft turns to match the control signal coming from the transmitter > Receiver > robot box.
Since it just plugs into the receiver I assume you're concerned with the physical mounting.
Most times the best way to attach is to drill a hole through your robot body big enough for the servo output shaft. Then drill 4 small holes that line up with the the tabs on the servo body. use 4 screws to secure the servo body to the robot body. that locks the servo body into place.
Then mount a horn (the small white arm that comes with the servo) to the servo with the provided screw.
Then attach the arm piece you've built to the servo horn using #2 x 3/8 wood screws.

Sometimes the arm is too heavy to rest on the servo output shaft. if this is the case then use a pivot shaft to join the arm and a gear or pulley to the body. then mount a small gear or pulley on the servo. This limits the range of motion but increase the torque, and the load is carried through the pivot shaft, not the servo.

hope that helps,
Brian

Answer 2

A servo is a special type of electric motor that is used to actuate mechanical devices likes arms, doors, levers etc. Servos need to be attached to some kind of motion-transfer device like an arm or lever to then move whatever needs moving. For example the ailerons and flaps on aircraft are moved by servos attached to arms which are attached to levers on the actual aileron or flap. The length of the arms and levers can multiply or divide the motion imparted by the rotation of the servo.