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> Two wheeled dynamically balanced warehouse robot like that is completely unnecessary complication. I had the same intuition, but then I remembered the toy I'

> Two wheeled dynamically balanced warehouse robot like that is completely unnecessary complication. I had the same intuition, but then I remembered the toy I'm playing with - the spectacularly unstable 4-rotor copter that could not even take off without an onboard computer actively keeping it level all the freaking time. And it's rock solid almost no matter what. As technology changes, our intuitions must follow.

nabla9 8y ago
4-copter has use for the balancing and has replaced complex mechanical flybar with cheaper electronics. 2-wheeler is not better or more stable than 4-wheeler and requires more maintenance.
- cm2187 8y ago
  And 4 wheeler will be cheaper.
  - hinkley 8y ago
    Cheaper and will not automatically fall over in the case of a power failure.
    - cm2187 8y ago
      Or a bug! I assume it will also consume less power.
  - dwiel 8y ago
    Are you 100% sure? 4 wheeler needs twice as many wheels and a larger frame. A little controller and imu is pretty cheap by comparison.
    - cm2187 8y ago
      Not just a little controller, a counterbalancing mechanism with gyroscopes, etc. Versus a motorised trolley.
      - dwiel 8y ago
        What do you mean a counterbalancing mechanism? Multiple gyroscopes? It's just a cheap IMU (includes gyrometer) and an additional control output in their controller.
      - chii 8y ago
        > a counterbalancing mechanism if the 4-wheeled version must also have the same level of acceleration and speed of picking up, won't it also need a counterbalancing mechanism? It just won't need the "balancing algorithm", but will need a way to balance the arm swinging out. Also, the counterbalancing mechanism is written with software, so once perfected, it's "free" to deploy. The weight could be the actual batteries, so no added extra weight!
        rujuladanh 8y ago
        A car accelerates way faster. Do you see cars with huge counterweights? And no, it is not free to deploy by any means. Any moving, huge, swinging parts will cause expensive problems. Remember your hard disks.
        etatoby 8y ago
        A car does not have an arm that picks up heavy objects. The ones that do (crane trucks) need outriggers and jacks to stabilise the machine and stop any motion before they can extend their arm.
        jaclaz 8y ago
        Fork lifts (no outriggers), optionally with a crane arm/jib, are normally used to move goods inside warehouses. Of course it depends on the weight of what you are moving, but it doesn't seem like the 2 wheeled robots in the video can actually move "heavy" weights.
    - jaclaz 8y ago
      You need to consider also possible issues and maintenance. Wheel issues (typical): 1) flat tire (if the wheel is not "solid" only) 2) axle bearing Controller+swinging counterweight: 1) a gazillion electronic components, connectors and contacts, bearings as well, the actuator for the swinging, etc., etc. What happens if the environment is a bit humid? For the wheel, a little rust, for the complex electronic system? And BTW, we can save 25% by using only three wheels ...

nabla9 8y ago

4-copter has use for the balancing and has replaced complex mechanical flybar with cheaper electronics. 2-wheeler is not better or more stable than 4-wheeler and requires more maintenance.

cm2187 8y ago
And 4 wheeler will be cheaper.
- hinkley 8y ago
  Cheaper and will not automatically fall over in the case of a power failure.
  - cm2187 8y ago
    Or a bug! I assume it will also consume less power.
- dwiel 8y ago
  Are you 100% sure? 4 wheeler needs twice as many wheels and a larger frame. A little controller and imu is pretty cheap by comparison.
  - cm2187 8y ago
    Not just a little controller, a counterbalancing mechanism with gyroscopes, etc. Versus a motorised trolley.
    - dwiel 8y ago
      What do you mean a counterbalancing mechanism? Multiple gyroscopes? It's just a cheap IMU (includes gyrometer) and an additional control output in their controller.
    - chii 8y ago
      > a counterbalancing mechanism if the 4-wheeled version must also have the same level of acceleration and speed of picking up, won't it also need a counterbalancing mechanism? It just won't need the "balancing algorithm", but will need a way to balance the arm swinging out. Also, the counterbalancing mechanism is written with software, so once perfected, it's "free" to deploy. The weight could be the actual batteries, so no added extra weight!
      - rujuladanh 8y ago
        A car accelerates way faster. Do you see cars with huge counterweights? And no, it is not free to deploy by any means. Any moving, huge, swinging parts will cause expensive problems. Remember your hard disks.
        etatoby 8y ago
        A car does not have an arm that picks up heavy objects. The ones that do (crane trucks) need outriggers and jacks to stabilise the machine and stop any motion before they can extend their arm.
        jaclaz 8y ago
        Fork lifts (no outriggers), optionally with a crane arm/jib, are normally used to move goods inside warehouses. Of course it depends on the weight of what you are moving, but it doesn't seem like the 2 wheeled robots in the video can actually move "heavy" weights.
  - jaclaz 8y ago
    You need to consider also possible issues and maintenance. Wheel issues (typical): 1) flat tire (if the wheel is not "solid" only) 2) axle bearing Controller+swinging counterweight: 1) a gazillion electronic components, connectors and contacts, bearings as well, the actuator for the swinging, etc., etc. What happens if the environment is a bit humid? For the wheel, a little rust, for the complex electronic system? And BTW, we can save 25% by using only three wheels ...