28-03-2017, 10:23 AM
A quick look at the range of existing mobile robots reveals a huge diversity in form, form and modes of mobility. However, one thing that most of them have in common is that they are passively balanced (meaning their bodies are constantly in a state of stable equilibrium). While this is perfectly logical in most cases, there are certain applications, such as Segways and humanoid robots, which take advantage of an unstable balance, inverted pendulum design to enhance their capabilities. Although its self-balancing mechanisms can increase the complexity of its design, the benefits, which include greater maneuverability and stability, outweigh the costs.
The two-wheeled design of the Segway Personal Transporter truck significantly increases its maneuverability by reducing the turning radius to zero. The vehicle can rotate in place to instantly change its direction of movement and navigate precisely into tight spaces that a three- or four-wheel robot can not. In addition, while a balanced and passively balanced balance system can be tilted over the instant it is put out of balance, an active balance, an unstable equilibrium system such as the Segway can take steps to recover if its balance is disturbed temporarily. This stability-enhancing behavior directly mimics the natural behavior of a human being who avoids a fall by taking a step in the direction of movement.
To demonstrate the benefits of such a design, we built a vertical self-balanced two-wheel robot that uses an IMU and a PID feedback control circuit to maintain stability. This report contains an exhaustive discussion of our project, including details on mechanics, electronics, software and everything else that went into the design, construction and testing of our self-balancing robot.
The two-wheeled design of the Segway Personal Transporter truck significantly increases its maneuverability by reducing the turning radius to zero. The vehicle can rotate in place to instantly change its direction of movement and navigate precisely into tight spaces that a three- or four-wheel robot can not. In addition, while a balanced and passively balanced balance system can be tilted over the instant it is put out of balance, an active balance, an unstable equilibrium system such as the Segway can take steps to recover if its balance is disturbed temporarily. This stability-enhancing behavior directly mimics the natural behavior of a human being who avoids a fall by taking a step in the direction of movement.
To demonstrate the benefits of such a design, we built a vertical self-balanced two-wheel robot that uses an IMU and a PID feedback control circuit to maintain stability. This report contains an exhaustive discussion of our project, including details on mechanics, electronics, software and everything else that went into the design, construction and testing of our self-balancing robot.