Let's Make Robots!

One ball robot

Primary image: 
Image1.jpg

Here is a challenge, something I just thought about.

A Segway is a vehicle on two wheels that uses a gyroscope to keep the rider upright, accelerating the motors when the user tilts forward and slows down when leaning back so the rider doesn't fall.

This would create a two wheel robot, but if the motors were mounted at right angles and drive a ball in the opposite way a ball mouse works. One motor drives forwards and back, the other turns the robot clockwise and counter clockwise. If the robot tilts to the left, the motor drives to the right to stabilise. 

To move, the robot has to tilt the weight forward and then drive slowly forwards. A slightly faster movement back will cause the tilt. A move slightly faster will bring the weight upright.

Challenge ends: 
2009-10-01 (All day)

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Dannyv's picture

http://trickfist.com/hacked-gadgets/ball-balancing-robot.html

Just found this somwhere on the internet en I remembered this tread. works something similar..

he is using 3 omniwheels..

MaltiK's picture
this is interesting
TheOther1's picture
This looks really interesting.  I wonder what happens when the power source dies?
GroG's picture

it has 4 retractable legs which are being held by electromagnets - if the power dies the legs spring out and lock it in place  
my robots
my garden

GroG's picture

Yeah - very nifty - if it was human size the footprint would still be very small
CMU's version is like this :
In this version the ball transfers (3) are taking the weight - the driver rollers are attached to belts around servomotors, I think the bar on the drive roller is straight and touches the ball at a tangental point.

ballbot.jpg

 

Links of videos which might help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5le0tQBrGJU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KPOOUsNRe4

 

Here are some links which might be some help

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballbot

http://www.msl.ri.cmu.edu/projects/ballbot/

 

Hmmm this one isnew...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlMMWFwHti4&feature=related 

rik's picture

Not to knock your idea, but is has been done by the pros. The weight of the bot is resting on rollers which are resting on the ball.

ballbot's drive system

I'd like to see a hobbyist do something similar. Or even copy this one!

8ik 

BaseOverApex's picture
I don't see what's taking the weight. Unless the opposed rollers both powered?
BaseOverApex's picture

Hmmm... Yes. I fancy a piece of that. The only real problem I see is a mechanical one: where would the weight be borne? I mean, if your robot is basically sitting on top of the ball, the ball won't be able to turn due to the friction. Hmmm...

CMU have done it. I wonder how....