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-build-self-balancing-skateboardrobotsegway-/

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).

Duration : 0:4:29

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