Electric Diwheel With Active Rotation Damping (EDWARD)

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By Sean Michael Ragan
Posted 2011/06/07 @ 5:59 am
Category Energy, Fun & Games, Robotics

An honors mechanical engineering project from a group of thirteen at Australia’s University of Adelaide:

Many diwheels in the past have been human powered or powered by IC engines. This one is purely electric. It has additional functionality lacking in other models, including inbuilt dynamic lateral stability and slosh control to prevent “gerbiling” or tumbling in aggressive braking or acceleration maneuvers. The diwheel also incorporates a unique feature that allows the rider to drive the vehicle when “upside down” – keeping the vehicle in its unstable state is achieved using a combined swingup and inversion controller. The mechanical design and some of the electronics was completed in 2009, with the majority of the electronics and control systems developed in 2010.

Many more details available at the project website. [via Hack a Day]

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29 Responses to Electric Diwheel With Active Rotation Damping (EDWARD)

Jarmai Silvestre on June 7th, 2011 at 1:21 pm said:

THIS is what you call a Design prototype!

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Jarmai Silvestre on June 7th, 2011 at 1:21 pm said:

THIS is what you call a Design prototype!

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Jarmai Silvestre on June 7th, 2011 at 1:21 pm said:

THIS is what you call a Design prototype!

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Jarmai Silvestre on June 7th, 2011 at 1:21 pm said:

THIS is what you call a Design prototype!

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JAmes on June 7th, 2011 at 2:23 pm said:

Where’s the mouth controls? I think Mr. Garrison would be rather upset to see that it’s been taken out of his design.

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- Sean Michael Ragan on June 7th, 2011 at 5:11 pm said:
  
  I thought very seriously about an “IT” joke, but this is not really the right forum… Also, FWIW, Garrison’s design was a monowheel… =]
  
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JAmes on June 7th, 2011 at 2:23 pm said:

Where’s the mouth controls? I think Mr. Garrison would be rather upset to see that it’s been taken out of his design.

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JAmes on June 7th, 2011 at 2:23 pm said:

Where’s the mouth controls? I think Mr. Garrison would be rather upset to see that it’s been taken out of his design.

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Anonymous on June 7th, 2011 at 6:46 pm said:

There really is a powerful engineering urge to put the rider inside the diameter of the wheel. Other than various star-wars™ designs (which were in turn based on wonderful pulp sci-fi covers (oh, and one typically disturbing south-park episode)), can anyone smarter-than-me suggest an advantage to that approach? (and i’m not buying any gyro stability arguments since i read this: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/why-a-speeding-bicycle-tends-to-stay-upright.html [wink])

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Anonymous on June 7th, 2011 at 6:46 pm said:

There really is a powerful engineering urge to put the rider inside the diameter of the wheel. Other than various star-wars™ designs (which were in turn based on wonderful pulp sci-fi covers (oh, and one typically disturbing south-park episode)), can anyone smarter-than-me suggest an advantage to that approach? (and i’m not buying any gyro stability arguments since i read this: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/why-a-speeding-bicycle-tends-to-stay-upright.html [wink])

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Anonymous on June 7th, 2011 at 6:46 pm said:

There really is a powerful engineering urge to put the rider inside the diameter of the wheel. Other than various star-wars™ designs (which were in turn based on wonderful pulp sci-fi covers (oh, and one typically disturbing south-park episode)), can anyone smarter-than-me suggest an advantage to that approach? (and i’m not buying any gyro stability arguments since i read this: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/why-a-speeding-bicycle-tends-to-stay-upright.html [wink])

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Anonymous on June 7th, 2011 at 6:46 pm said:

There really is a powerful engineering urge to put the rider inside the diameter of the wheel. Other than various star-wars™ designs (which were in turn based on wonderful pulp sci-fi covers (oh, and one typically disturbing south-park episode)), can anyone smarter-than-me suggest an advantage to that approach? (and i’m not buying any gyro stability arguments since i read this: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/why-a-speeding-bicycle-tends-to-stay-upright.html [wink])

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Anonymous on June 7th, 2011 at 6:46 pm said:

There really is a powerful engineering urge to put the rider inside the diameter of the wheel. Other than various star-wars™ designs (which were in turn based on wonderful pulp sci-fi covers (oh, and one typically disturbing south-park episode)), can anyone smarter-than-me suggest an advantage to that approach? (and i’m not buying any gyro stability arguments since i read this: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/why-a-speeding-bicycle-tends-to-stay-upright.html [wink])

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Anonymous on June 7th, 2011 at 6:46 pm said:

There really is a powerful engineering urge to put the rider inside the diameter of the wheel. Other than various star-wars™ designs (which were in turn based on wonderful pulp sci-fi covers (oh, and one typically disturbing south-park episode)), can anyone smarter-than-me suggest an advantage to that approach? (and i’m not buying any gyro stability arguments since i read this: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/why-a-speeding-bicycle-tends-to-stay-upright.html [wink])

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Anonymous on June 7th, 2011 at 6:46 pm said:

There really is a powerful engineering urge to put the rider inside the diameter of the wheel. Other than various star-wars™ designs (which were in turn based on wonderful pulp sci-fi covers (oh, and one typically disturbing south-park episode)), can anyone smarter-than-me suggest an advantage to that approach? (and i’m not buying any gyro stability arguments since i read this: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/why-a-speeding-bicycle-tends-to-stay-upright.html [wink])

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Anonymous on June 7th, 2011 at 6:46 pm said:

There really is a powerful engineering urge to put the rider inside the diameter of the wheel. Other than various star-wars™ designs (which were in turn based on wonderful pulp sci-fi covers (oh, and one typically disturbing south-park episode)), can anyone smarter-than-me suggest an advantage to that approach? (and i’m not buying any gyro stability arguments since i read this: http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2011/04/why-a-speeding-bicycle-tends-to-stay-upright.html [wink])

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Anonymous on June 7th, 2011 at 8:51 pm said:

General Grievous called… he said he wants his car back… http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_ZDQFOQLZQOw/TAMbsoEcUvI/AAAAAAAAAqM/DgIzp4TkbG4/s1600/bigwheel.jpg
Very cool though… looks like fun to drive.

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Stevan Farkas on June 8th, 2011 at 11:53 pm said:

so, what if the three points of connection were linear motors?

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Stevan Farkas on June 8th, 2011 at 11:53 pm said:

so, what if the three points of connection were linear motors?

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water coolers on June 26th, 2011 at 10:48 am said:

Good post.This machine is very helpful for us in making different embroidery designs & downloading,convert digital photos.The special feature in this is the wheel of the machine that allows the rider to drive the vehicle when “upside down”

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water hygiene on June 26th, 2011 at 12:02 pm said:

Hey, this embroidery machine help us in reducing work load.It has various latest features. This machine is suitable for doing embroidery work.I would like to read your other updates.Keep it up.

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complete pa systems on June 27th, 2011 at 6:18 am said:

This sewing machine is really awesome. It provide the comfort & good out put.Thanks for giving this information to us.Its great.Keep it up.

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optical measuring machines on June 27th, 2011 at 8:37 am said:

Great article.Interesting article.I enjoy at the time of reading this article.This machine is really a awesome creation.i like this.It has lots of features..Thanks for sharing this article with us.

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hdpostproductioneditingediting on June 27th, 2011 at 9:44 am said:

Hello Its very nice article.Its really a very great invention.This is look wise is also nice machine.Its the according to the choice of the peoples.I like this article so much.Keep it up.

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boiler repair on June 28th, 2011 at 8:49 am said:

Nice post.This EDWARD incorporates a unique feature that allows the rider to drive the vehicle when “upside down” – then its in an unstable stage achieved using a combined swing up and inversion controller.Its very powerful urge.Keep sharing with us.

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Joseph Duncan on August 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 pm said:

Completly serious here how much would it cost to have one built and shipped to the US. I would like to have one of my own. Money isn’t an object for me and I would like to either have one built for me or to have the plans to build one of my own.
Thank You

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Joseph Duncan on August 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 pm said:

Completly serious here how much would it cost to have one built and shipped to the US. I would like to have one of my own. Money isn’t an object for me and I would like to either have one built for me or to have the plans to build one of my own.
Thank You

Reply ↓
Joseph Duncan on August 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 pm said:

Completly serious here how much would it cost to have one built and shipped to the US. I would like to have one of my own. Money isn’t an object for me and I would like to either have one built for me or to have the plans to build one of my own.
Thank You

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Mack on October 21st, 2011 at 1:09 am said:

I like
this content. The diwheel also incorporates a unique feature that allows
the rider to drive the vehicle .This is an amazing content.The written skill
is so good.I appreciate to this content.Thanks to share this blog with
us.Keep sharing.

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