Appreciating self-balancing technology

SegwayUtah · 03-05-2004, 05:47 PM

There's an entrant for the DARPA "Grand Challenge" which is working on, basically, a self-balancing dirt-bike.

It's called the "Ghost Rider" -- check out the videos. Hey, at least they made it a few feet before wiping out!

http://www.ghostriderrobot.com/

Watching demonstrations like this make me appreciate the _years_ of work that Segway engineers put into making the HT so seamless and so perfect in its balancing abilities.

Chris

Zorba9 · 03-05-2004, 05:56 PM

Chris thats a cute little rascal! Do you think this is how DK got started?-

KOG

Zorba9.....

Sal · 03-05-2004, 06:19 PM

I must point out, that this is rather impressive, in that getting something with tandem wheels to self balance is a tricky proposition than something with non-tandem wheels.

I'm not taking anything away from Segway, choosing to go the non-tandem route is much safer than this dirtbike.

-Sal

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gotseg · 03-05-2004, 07:37 PM

Thats accualy amazing that it can stay balanced that long without moving all that fast. Id imagin that it would do awsome on pavement.

StephenM · 03-05-2004, 08:03 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by SegwayUtah

Watching demonstrations like this make me appreciate the _years_ of work that Segway engineers put into making the HT so seamless and so perfect in its balancing abilities.

If you review all the schools involved in the DARPA/MARS project you can find plenty of footage of autonomus Segways taking tumbles. It makes me appreciate how much of Segway's stability is still due to the onboard operator.
http://www.darpa.mil/ipto/programs/mars/rmp.htm

SegwayUtah · 03-05-2004, 10:16 PM

gotseg,

I didn't have a chance to look at it much, but I'm guessing that they're shifting a big weight left and right in addition to using the front wheel to maintain balance. Otherwise, there's pretty much _no way_ it could stand still while stopped.

Or could just moving the front wheel back and forth make it balance? Intriguing . . .

Chris

Neelix · 03-06-2004, 12:22 AM

I assume these guys are in Berkley, I'd like to show them my Segway and maybe have a look at their balancing robot, but I couldn't find any contact info on that site.

-------------------------
Fear not, for even though I come from the Forbidden City, I surely do not agree with the rules.
Chris Knight

GadgetmanKen · 03-06-2004, 01:03 AM

My son had a R/C controlled motorcycle that had something similar to what it does. Only it didn't balance at a standstill. It had the steering like that and the little riders body shifted from side to side by mere gravity. I think they accomplish the balance almost in the same manner. Sometimes on a bicycle you can achieve a stationary balance momentarily by moving the front wheel back and forth. Having the axis behind center would help. Perhaps they also have a tilt sensor inside it that moves the steering back and forth and a weight shifting mechanism as well

"Wouldn't it be cool, if?...is like Folgers in my cup"

03-05-2004, 05:47 PM	#1
SegwayUtah Advanced Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,644	Appreciating self-balancing technology There's an entrant for the DARPA "Grand Challenge" which is working on, basically, a self-balancing dirt-bike. It's called the "Ghost Rider" -- check out the videos. Hey, at least they made it a few feet before wiping out! http://www.ghostriderrobot.com/ Watching demonstrations like this make me appreciate the _years_ of work that Segway engineers put into making the HT so seamless and so perfect in its balancing abilities. Chris

03-05-2004, 05:56 PM	#2
Zorba9 Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Oxford, Mississippi, . Posts: 1,084	Chris thats a cute little rascal! Do you think this is how DK got started?- KOG Zorba9.....

03-05-2004, 06:19 PM	#3
Sal Enjoys a well balanced glide Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 3,422	I must point out, that this is rather impressive, in that getting something with tandem wheels to self balance is a tricky proposition than something with non-tandem wheels. I'm not taking anything away from Segway, choosing to go the non-tandem route is much safer than this dirtbike. -Sal Think Different www.apple.com Answers that Matter www.lilly.com

03-05-2004, 07:37 PM	#4
gotseg Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Burke, VA, USA. Posts: 795	Thats accualy amazing that it can stay balanced that long without moving all that fast. Id imagin that it would do awsome on pavement.

03-05-2004, 10:16 PM	#6
SegwayUtah Advanced Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,644	gotseg, I didn't have a chance to look at it much, but I'm guessing that they're shifting a big weight left and right in addition to using the front wheel to maintain balance. Otherwise, there's pretty much _no way_ it could stand still while stopped. Or could just moving the front wheel back and forth make it balance? Intriguing . . . Chris

03-06-2004, 12:22 AM	#7
Neelix Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 1,175	I assume these guys are in Berkley, I'd like to show them my Segway and maybe have a look at their balancing robot, but I couldn't find any contact info on that site. ------------------------- Fear not, for even though I come from the Forbidden City, I surely do not agree with the rules. Chris Knight

03-06-2004, 01:03 AM	#8
GadgetmanKen Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 1,149	My son had a R/C controlled motorcycle that had something similar to what it does. Only it didn't balance at a standstill. It had the steering like that and the little riders body shifted from side to side by mere gravity. I think they accomplish the balance almost in the same manner. Sometimes on a bicycle you can achieve a stationary balance momentarily by moving the front wheel back and forth. Having the axis behind center would help. Perhaps they also have a tilt sensor inside it that moves the steering back and forth and a weight shifting mechanism as well "Wouldn't it be cool, if?...is like Folgers in my cup"

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