Make a Self Balancing Gyroscope (11000 rpm) on Two Legs

Demonstration of how to self balance a motorized gyroscope (CMG) using little dc motor and a rotor from a Powerball toy.
It seems the rotor side of the gyroscope must be heavier (CG is to the front) for this to work. I tried it with the CG in the middle of the frame and it would not balance.
I was wrong in the video - it is spinning at about 11000 rpm. It takes this much rpm for the 150 gram rotor to balance the entire gyro/motor/frame weight of 330 grams and it produces about 1.39 kg of torque.

[@markflierl1624]

I think your gyro balances by changing the center of gravity, not by providing a righting moment. When it starts to tip over the gyro moves thereby changing the center of gravity. I could be wrong but it's still very interesting.

[@demej00]

Thanks, your guess is probably better than mine. I have never found any scholarly explanation of how it works. But it is entertaining. I pull it out occasionally just to watch it work.

[@inhthang6939]

Can you show me how to calculate to have a motive for a frame. I use it to make my own project. I lack English, so reading and communicating is difficult. Thanks

[@demej00]

Frame size does not matter, make it any size you like. Try to put the CG of the rotor and motor between the rotor and motor. Then you just have to play with it until you get it balancing.

[@inhthang6939]

@@demej00 hi Jimmy, my gyro still can't stand still on 2 stakes. I still don't know what the reason is, can you please show me how much the flywheel weighs in relation to the shaft? Thank you, sir. Does the distance of the gyroscope from the ground affect it much?

[@demej00]

@@inhthang6939 Can you post a video on youtube of your gyroscope? A picture is worth a thousand words. Height does not matter a lot. Shaft weight does not matter. The CG should be between the motor and the rotor. How fast is your motor turning the rotor? Needs to be at least 3 or 4000 rpm to start it balancing. What are you using for a rotor?

[@greggs2444]

Nice project! How does it work? Is there a sensor?

[@demej00]

Hi. No, no sensor. As the frame begins to fall to one side, the gyro applies a torque to push it back the other way, then as it falls to the other side, the gyro applies opposite torque so it kind of see-saw balances itself.