Comments on: Balancing one wheel scooter

By: mateo

mateo — Wed, 30 May 2007 05:10:32 +0000

where did you get your tire and what are the specs on the motor? also how do you get the “skateboard” ( i like to call it a motobord) to respond while going up a hill?

By: maverick

maverick — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 22:48:05 +0000

Excellent work! You mention a tendency to send the rider over the front when top speed is achieved. Is this due to the motor suddenly ceasing acceleration, or from the front of the device digging into the pavement?

If the former is the case, could you not put in a buffer circuit to lower power as top speed is approached, and restore the power as it runs out?

If the latter, then why not put small rollers (roller blade wheels come to mind) on the edge that would be first to contact? It would impede control, but at that speed, damped controls would probably be a good thing.

my .02

One last question: what are the approach and departure angles for this device? (the angles at which the surface would come into contact with the board, assuming the board is level)

By: Neil

Neil — Sat, 17 Mar 2007 21:47:53 +0000

Hey Ben, awsome build! I’m so going to make my own!

Anyway got a question, what width is the tyre you used?

By: vskid3

vskid3 — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 18:24:21 +0000

What limits do the Segway patents put on this project?

You should start a forum for the discussion of making these things, it looks awesome, good job.

By: a knight

a knight — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 17:09:25 +0000

This is a very nice project Ben. I’m very interested in building one myself. I live in Australia and build combat robots for a hobby, it was great to see some familiar parts in your project (OSMC controller, SLA’s, Go kart wheels and Scooter motors).

If your looking for further possible upgrades, http://www.oatleyelectronics.com.au has a nice range of scooter style motors. The 100watt and 300watt motors have proven very well in robot combat. The 250watt geared motors have proven to be very powerful, check out the 26kg Lightweight robot Maestro (http://youtube.com/watch?v=U0xxSkvqlXE youtube video) it’s charges the arena at around 12-15MPH…

Nice project, and keep up the good work!

By: Stone

Stone — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:03:26 +0000

So with the two batteries, how long does it run between charges? I assume the motor’s not running at its peak 40A all the time…

Awesome project, btw :D

By: Peter

Peter — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:59:50 +0000

man, nice work! been living in Norwich for about ten years, and this is the most interesting thing i’ve seen from around here in all that time :)

maybe i could build one to get me to and from sixth form in style! so how steep a slope has it been up? tried grapes hill yet :)

By: strider_mt2k

strider_mt2k — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 01:22:17 +0000

I agree with the others.
This not only is a great project, but it's so well executed that I almost want one too!
(I wouldn't try it because I would kill myself)

Everything about it is not only logically engineered, but it all ends up being downright aesthetically pleasing as well! (at least to me)

The only (and I mean only) thing i could say is maybe add a couple of small wheels (bogeys) on the ends to handle occasional over-tipping but that's it.

Too bad you didn't make this the size of a business card, because you would have won the contest man. ;)

By: Brad

Brad — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 11:56:04 +0000

I love the project! Very interesting. Are there any other options besides the $200 OSMC? This seems to be by far the most expensive part of the project. Any other options?

By: cSnap

cSnap — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 09:23:53 +0000

I would do horrible and unspeakable things for the extra money to buy/make one of these. Great project, keep it up.

By: neon.mooshu

neon.mooshu — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 08:54:24 +0000

wow, honestly, would you consider making more of these and selling them to people? :O

By: chimpoid

chimpoid — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 00:32:39 +0000

Congrats on a job well done. I just moved to Norwich area and had checked this a few times before it dawned on me where you were :)

By: Troy

Troy — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 23:45:33 +0000

Very Impressive. I myself fell in love with the emmanual when I first saw it. But this takes some of the complexity out of that project and cost. I have a question for Ben. The Gyro and Accelerometer are not in packages that I would consider hobbist solding friendly. did you get demonstation boards to use these devices? Also I am like a lot of others a schematic on your web site would explain much more on you board. I love this project and I myself would also like to build one. I have been looking for a good balanceing robot/rider project. The setup for this one seems to be the simplest and definatly the most fun. Thanks for sharing your hard work.

By: Pete

Pete — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 19:06:04 +0000

Congrats on such a simple, elegant design, and being the first to build it. It definitely falls into the category of “Why didn’t I think of that???”

I’ve seen plenty of self balancing scooters and robots, but this one has a whole new level of cool factor. It definitely loses the “nerd” stigma of other balancing toys/machines.

By: Ben Smither

Ben Smither — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 16:23:19 +0000

The motor has a rated output of 400 Watts at 1500 RPM. That equates to a torque 2.5 Nm at 1500 RPM. At lower speed a higher torque may be possible – the motor has a max continuous current of 21A, I have seen spikes of over 50A when I drive it too hard.