Easy build Self Balancing Seg-robot-skateboard unit.wmv
Plan: Lowest possible cost easy-build self balancing segway / robot / skateboard base unit.
Build sequence is on Instructables.com:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-...
June 2014: We are entering the Hackaday Competition with the "Medicycle - Urban Responder" machine, a unicycle. If you would like to follow us, and we would very much like you to, here is the link:
http://hackaday.io/project/1156-Medic...
Why? : I took my self-balancing skateboard to a recent Maker Faire and was inundated by people of all ages wanting a ride and teenagers wanting guidance on how to build one. The machine I built was very expensive and not easy to construct as had evolved over a coupe of years. The plan this time around is to see how simple and low cost I can make this tech, so much less daunting challenge, but still capable of carrying an adult. Using KISS (keep it simple stupid) design ethos!
Arduino microcontroller powered by its own 9V battery
Electric scooter motors from ebay
Commercial motor controller (no point skimping on this)
Cheapest possible Sparkfun IMU module
Electric scooter wheels with axles and sprockets already sorted out for you.
Wheels small enough to go underneath deck rather than sticking out of the sides.
NO welding required just bolts together.
Fit your own skateboard deck or robot body.
Use whatever batteries you have or can afford.
Simple hand controller with motor cutout, steer-left, steer-right and balance-point-fine-tune switches.
If space the wheels further apart can use to make a small segway style machine.
Has second gyro in IMU to resist sudden spins if one wheel hits small obstruction (easier, cheaper, more abuse resistant than wheel encoders).
Approx £300 GBP in parts but £ is weak at present, woud be much less in the US.
This would be a great school technology project so the idea is that it could be built by a teenager interested in electronics, with some practical help. This one took one (very long) day to build and will carry my weight (same motors as in my original self-balancing skateboard).