All-around assembling structure: you can make robots of various forms as using different option frames.
Powerful feedback : It can read current position of Dynamixel or speed as well as various information such as internal temperature, supply voltage, target position.
Simple connection structure: Wiring is simple because it is linked by Daisy Chain.
Alarm function: When internal temperature, torque, supply voltage etc. escaped appointed range, it gives feedback about that situation. Also in such emergency situation, it flash LED or be Torque off.
Compliance configuration: It can configure the compliance to control the position.
Torque set up : Torque can be set up by 1023 steps from maximum Torque to free run state.
Low-electric current/high voltagedrive : Its efficiency is high because it runs by high voltage and it improves stability of robot system that is formed by Dynamixel because current consumption is low.
Status LED : It has LED that can check state of the Dynamixel.
Drive by network: Dynamixels have unique ID and are controlled by Packet communication on a bus. It supports network of TTL, RS 485, and CAN etc. according to model.
This video illustrates the capabilities and the existing application for Dynamixel servomotors:
Programming the Dynamixel servomotors
The servomotors have to be linked to a main controller (CM-900, CM-700, CM-5, CM-510 or CM-530) to be commanded. The progams are made with RoboPlus, which allow really easy programmation, without much previous knowledge.
The most recent main controllers support embedded C and there is a SDK for you to developp your own applications.
The Dynamixel MX-28R actuator
The MX series differs from the other due to features such as a more advanced features on the PID control, 360° control et high speed communication. The MX-28 servomoteur has been splited into two models: the Dynamixel MX-28T actuator that keeps the Half duplex Asynchronous Serial Communication protocol and the TTL Level Multi Drop physical link, when the MX-28R uses RS485 communication protocol and multi drop bus.
Technical specifications of the Dynamixel MX-28R actuator
MCU : ST CORTEX-M3 ( ST32F103C8 @ 72MHZ,32BIT)
Position sensor : Contactless absolute encoder (12BIT,360 DEGREE)
The chart below compare the Dynamixel actuators on their performance. Servomotors are differentiated by communication type (and the MX range proposes both protocols).