Build Your Own Arduino-Powered Self-Balancing Robot
This open source, 3D-printed robot uses an Arduino Nano 33 BLE and a PID control loop to self-balance.
If you are looking for your next project, YouTuber Build Some Stuff has just created a self-balancing robot that could be exactly what you need. It’s relatively simple, yet it’s very polished. That makes it not only a nice learning project for less experienced hardware hackers, but also an opportunity to build a nice display piece for your desk. Aside from that, pushing this little bot around looks like it would be a lot of fun.
The entire body of the robot is 3D printed, all the way down to the treads on the wheels. Build Some Stuff designed all of the parts so that they can be printed without supports. An Arduino Nano 33 BLE board mounted on a custom PCB controls the motors that keep the robot balanced by running a simple PID control loop. Power is supplied by a 2,200 mAh rechargeable battery.
The robot has a pair of wheeled legs, with each containing two joints that are driven by a 40kg servo. An encoder and brushless DC motor drive each wheel. An ultrasonic sensor on the robot’s body is used to detect obstacles, and a pushbutton on the side turns it on or off.
Build Some Stuff wants to take this build even further, but is struggling to find the time to do so. As such, he has open sourced all of his work so that others can help out. You can grab the design files for the robot and circuit board, and also the firmware, for free from Printables.
R&D, creativity, and building the next big thing you never knew you wanted are my specialties.