Robotics and motion replication

[preet]

Hey all

I'm working with a simple 'robot' that consists of a sensor (rotary encoder) and a DC motor. Both are coupled through a computer. My goal is to simply replicate any rotation the sensor undergoes using the motor. For example if the sensor turns one revolution in a second, I want the motor to replicate the same motion in real-time.

I can obtain position data from the encoder at a fairly high frequency. I realize that motion control in robotics is a huge field unto itself. I'm new at this and would really appreciate some references (websites, textbooks, etc) that I could look at. I'm having trouble with the 'key words' I'd use to find literature on this topic specifically.

Regards,

-Preet

[dlgoff]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Servomechanism is one place to start.

For your example, you could use an optical encoder on the motor as the feedback/error signal. Try to make this error zero.