Curious to know how long the batteries last?

I’ve tweaked the gains of the PID loop so it is more responsive so you don’t see the ‘catching up’ effect you see in the video.

maybe, just maybe, Hackaday has been listening to the fans. Maybe that is why they have been broadening their scope (since about 2005).

Here’s a homework assignment for you.

1) Read *all* the comments for the last ten hacks posted on this site.

2) Sort the comments into two piles. Pile (a) will contain comments directly relevant to the project– kudos and suggestions for improvement. Pile (b) will contain non-value-added commentary, including “this sucks,” “this is not a hack,” “this is stupid/lame,” and “I would have done it better” type stuff.

3) compute the signal-to-noise ratio. Divide the number of a’s by the number of b’s.

4) When you get the answer, and realize what it is telling you, you can then come back here and post a message apologizing for being mean to me.

Seriously, my recent comments are an attempt to draw attention to, and make light of, the absurd atmosphere that some people have created in the comments section. It has become nasty enough that I have asked myself more than once, why bother coming here?

The truth is that I like hackaday, and always have. And, while I don’t personally find all of the hacks useful, I certainly appreciate them *all,* because, in total, they represent a group of people who are out there building, tinkering, fabricating, experimenting, and thinking, as opposed to doing what most Americans seem to do– sit in front of a tv all day long playing video games, watching football, or obsessing over what Oprah thinks.

If I had the choice between being stuck on an island with some guy who knows every play the Lakers ever made, and a guy who wires up matchbox cars so that he can photograph them when they crash, I’ll take the matchbox guy.

If I have the choice between living on an island with somebody who devotes themselves to knowing all the details of Michael Jackson’s funeral, or what Lady Di was wearing when she died, or how many babies Brad and Angelina have, vs a guy who makes his own beer with the help of an twittering Arduino-based controller, I’ll take the arduino guy. Get it?

As to hackaday losing its “focus,” since when was that “focus” defined by you? The focus is what the editors/administrators of hackaday decide it is. If the focus turns out to be something that isn’t your cup of tea, well, adios. If enough people feel that way, hackday will get the message and modify their content.

My guess is that overall, most people are happy with things just as they are. I know I am.

() this is completely useless

Hmm, I wonder what a good way to support the wheels without having the bar go overtop would be.

What kind of build information did you want?

>>would love to see a cost breakdown of this

Rough breakdown:
2 Motors, £70 each
4 batteries, £10 each
Steel, £30
2 OSMC, £100 each
Arduino and sensors, £50
Misc, £50
+£50 for tendency to underestimate costs

Total: £560

>>How hard would it be to use brushless hub motors? Will they withstand the torsional forces?

The trouble with hub motors is the controllers don’t seem to have the level of control needed, i.e. Locked Anti-phase PWM. I may well look into this further, but with a sensored hub motor (if they exist) with my own-build controller (if commercial 3 phase locked-anti-phase controllers don’t exist).

>>Can I get one with lasers? I want the most unsafe lasers possible.

Sure, send me a check for £5000.

>>nifty im working on one my self and I have the same “gyro” he has. good old ebay.

Awesome, be sure to keep a blog and send me the link please! I may make my .pde available.

>>just a question tho, what happens if the power fails?
>>presumably the wheels dont just lock up, or do you end up falling flat on your face?

If the power fails, its not so drastic as other segway clones due to the really low COG. You have a few seconds to jump off before it hits the ground. Best thing to do is avoid a power failure, although my test-pilot friend managed it and escaped injury-free.