@TheTampTalks there were plenty in that video right there, the wheelbarrow was able to turn in far more directions than a regular old wheel, its just the fact that it can turn in any direction. Plus because it's robot driven, it can be used for limitless possibilities
I've seen these kinds of comments and articles everywhere but one question still nags at me, how would you steer it? all promotional material I've seen for spherical wheels have clearly shown the wheels moving independent of one another but how would you be able to control that fluidly!? if anyone as a solution to this problem I'm all years because I haven't found anything on this subject thus far.
It's possible, at least one high school robotics team has accomplished it: ua-cam.com/video/IZEFp8iaAcU/v-deo.html And I'm sure there's more professional research around it.
I'll try one more time: sometimes you're not ready to build a drone which dodges land mines, or whatever this technology ends up doing. Parallel parking made easier or whatever. So you just test out ONE FREAKING PART of the technology, like the quick adjusting movement stuff. You're not ready to build a robotic stretcher or whatever. This is my last attempt.
Thanks for many comments. I'm Masaaki KUMAGAI, who developed the robot with Takaya. The demonstration using three robots seems to be confusing, so I'll explain a bit. Usually, passive behavior of 'active' robot requires control technique with force sensors so that the robot can detect which way they pushed. This robot can do it by making only one parameter zero, which we call passive mode. And there is no rigid connection between the robots and frames. The frame only put on them via ball joint.
Have you considered making the robot balance on a ball that is balanced on a ball? That would be very impressive. I don't think the hardware would need any changes.
Someone commented at a blog, the frame with three robots is essentially equals to plate (table) with casters. It's true. Behavior as a omnidirectional caster is very important because we can use it naturally. Moreover, normal carrier device with casters with 10kg load can be lead by one finger? Probably it's heavy even with wheels. But this robot can do because slight move of the carried object cause lean of the robot, which is corrected immediately actively.
Really impressive demonstration. I'm interested in seeing the real world applications of such a device. Perhaps children's toys could be the first to utilize this technology once the cost of development goes down.
very impressive. engineers got a robot to feel gravity and compensate. I did want to see the guy hit one of the corners and see how(if?) the robots could correct for it
You could probably make the whole thing even more stable by making it enclosed around the ball, extending it toward like the equator of the ball, gripping it.
When students build cool things like this, it's usually to test some new idea. A robot which balances on a ball has to make a lot of adjustments, quick responses, and so forth. It's not hard to think that there could be very practical applications for that sort of rapid sensing, response, etc., whether the exact application of a robot balancing on a ball is or not. And I doubt it cost a million dollars. Robotics is a LOT cheaper than it used to be.
To me it looks like the wheels that make contact with the sphere are actually "double wheels". Spinning on 2 axis. There's the obvious 3 wheels that would make the ball spin in a circle. Then there is also cylindrical wheels (rollers) going around the outside edge of each of the 3 wheels. So, basically a wheel on a wheel.
It would be interesting to see how the robot does on different floor types, shaggy carpet, rough tile or maybe even a slippery surface. It looks really cool. :)
I think this demonstrates that instead on using a wheel for robots to move around, you could use balls as replacement. And i think its the quick shift in directions that is most impressive. I think this would be a great replacement for castor wheels. But the price could be hell.
I think you guys are missing the point which is "Equilibrium" It is a fundmantal stage in real robotics that are more humnoid. So far the Humoniod bots have been slow and cumbersom. Improving the equilibrium improves their agility. Artificial balancing capability is what is on show.
Very cool. They could be very useful helpers for workers, or elderly or disabled people. Even if they are not “intelligent” but can be guided with gentle touch to carry a heavy loads.
The very first thing I thought was, "Human transportation." This sort of technology would be revolutionary in almost every aspect of transportation. The future is here.
@Smartlack Probably for people who are handicapped that live home alone, an item such as a glass of water or plate of food already placed on the robot. The handicapped person can simply drive the robot and its ball (I know that sounds wrong but bare with me) to the handicapped person, without standing :) Very clever and amazing piece of technology.
This is one of those things, love it! Quite a work of art, but please, to makers, get yourself someone with a video mind and do DECENT video of your REALLY amazing robots.
@MyRoomStudio1 I am assuming that the robots have very precise accelerometers inside them, so if it tilts slightly in any direction, a computer system (inside or outside the robot) will decide what direction it is tilting in, and it will turn one or more of the wheels to counteract the tilt, this way it will stay balanced. The top of the robot is small and flat, so the robot cannot balance another object on that. The frame cannot balance itself, so it requires a human to balance it on the robot.
@MyRoomStudio1 If there are two robots opposite each other, then they should be able to balance, I agree with you there. The frame is about 4 feet wide, so it is much wider than a board. You cannot keep a bicycle upright on 2 tires, but a tricycle easily stays upright. A board is small so it will easily balance on top of the robots, but the frame itself will be hard to balance because it is much wider than a board. It can be done,. but it is much easier and safer with 3 robots than 2.
@gnoooo Wind is not an issue, as in one mode it would compensate for it, in other mode you would manually compensate for wind. Non flat ground is not a problem too, up to a certain degree (when it's too steep it will just lose it's ball in this robot configuration shown in the video) however there are robots with attached ball. The worst thing for this kind of robot is the loss of grip: either ball to surface, or rollers to ball; so wet weather and icy road would be the worst for such robot.
Wow! This will help us because it's another step toward low cost, flexible robotics, we're in the same place with robotics that we were in 1990 with personal computing, the first roomba was sold in 2002, the first apple computer 1976. Robotics are moving much faster than PCs. Look at the Stanford driving robots for examples.
Always possible: a land drone which dodges land mines while shooting enemy soldiers or something like that. But a lot of military stuff eventually makes it into the civilian world. The swords are eventually beaten into plowshares... well, we always keep a few unbeaten swords around just in case. But some of them, we beat into plowshares.
@tupacyupanqui It's not so quite difficult calculation, it is implemented on 16bit MCU. The control is done in two horizontal axes. For each axis, lean angle, its velocity, position and velocity (four state variables with four gains) are used. Pivoting is additional to balance control. As in IEEE spectrum article, the idea to control this kind of robot had been already proposed in 1970s.
Reinventing the wheel? Cool things, that must have been difficult. Weird reusing of purposes already used, but I'm sure you'll find a unique never before seen use.
This is not made from Legos. This is made by Dr. Masaaki Kumagai, director of the Robot Development Engineering Laboratory at Tohoku Gakuin University, in Tagajo City, Japan.
@evilbunnyo I can think of several uses for this. It could be adapted for any number of devices that could make it easier on freight crews in large stores. Because they can move in any direction they could be perfect for wheelbarrow like devices for flat surfaces or with 4 or more you could make a very maneuverable fork lift. You could also easily make novelty vehicles or eventually, by making them able to clime slopes, you could have a car that takes no effort to parallel park in a tiny space.
@ozzyt9 10kg isn't a ton of weight, and that part of the video is moving at 1.2 times actual speed, making it seem like it's an easy weight to pick up (which is it even without the increased speed on the video)
@southcanada you could carry large objects without the need of someone, as shown in this video, you could create a sort of big table and move it around with only one hand
Watching this I just have to imagine an omni-directional vehicle that has four of these as 'wheels.' You should get the robots to communicate and use them as a propulsion system. The mobility of such a vehicle would be astounding. They would have to have "balls of steel" (haha) or something in order to bear the weight and resist wear, but if you could create a good braking system to go along with this I think it would work rather nicely.
@TheTrueBlueBrizze That's what people said about the Segway. And while the Segway itself was a flop, the people who use the wheelchairs based on the tech seem to appreciate it. This has far more potential uses than you're thinking about currently.
lol. when he showed the 3 robots handling the wood frame my first reaction was HOLY SHIT HE HAS THREE OF THEM!!
Give these men a medal.
Finally; a low budget robot with actual practical applications.
Starwars 7 teaser trailer brought me here...
WOW! I can imagine that this has alot of applications in the future!
Not yet 😂
@@GGGG_3333 not yet 😂
@themechbuilder Not yet
not yet
I can see it used by kids as a moving battle arena for action figure or Lego fights (I’d do this and I’m in highschool)
BB-8 !
@TheTampTalks there were plenty in that video right there, the wheelbarrow was able to turn in far more directions than a regular old wheel, its just the fact that it can turn in any direction. Plus because it's robot driven, it can be used for limitless possibilities
We should use this for a new type of wheel to the cars, like the "I robot" film.
I've seen these kinds of comments and articles everywhere but one question still nags at me, how would you steer it? all promotional material I've seen for spherical wheels have clearly shown the wheels moving independent of one another but how would you be able to control that fluidly!? if anyone as a solution to this problem I'm all years because I haven't found anything on this subject thus far.
magnets in wheels windings in grid array in car ?
It's possible, at least one high school robotics team has accomplished it: ua-cam.com/video/IZEFp8iaAcU/v-deo.html
And I'm sure there's more professional research around it.
Pc Mouse mechanism ;)
I hope that we'd get some practical uses out of this bot technology in the near future. I could see its mechanism used in other applications too.
I'll try one more time: sometimes you're not ready to build a drone which dodges land mines, or whatever this technology ends up doing. Parallel parking made easier or whatever. So you just test out ONE FREAKING PART of the technology, like the quick adjusting movement stuff. You're not ready to build a robotic stretcher or whatever.
This is my last attempt.
Thanks for many comments. I'm Masaaki KUMAGAI, who developed the robot with Takaya.
The demonstration using three robots seems to be confusing, so I'll explain a bit.
Usually, passive behavior of 'active' robot requires control technique with force sensors so that the robot can detect which way they pushed. This robot can do it by making only one parameter zero, which we call passive mode. And there is no rigid connection between the robots and frames. The frame only put on them via ball joint.
Have you considered making the robot balance on a ball that is balanced on a ball? That would be very impressive. I don't think the hardware would need any changes.
Someone commented at a blog, the frame with three robots is essentially equals to plate (table) with casters. It's true. Behavior as a omnidirectional caster is very important because we can use it naturally. Moreover, normal carrier device with casters with 10kg load can be lead by one finger? Probably it's heavy even with wheels. But this robot can do because slight move of the carried object cause lean of the robot, which is corrected immediately actively.
This has to get in everyones RECOMMENDED!!
This has got to be one of the coolest things i've ever seen.
@StillAware Exactly. It finally solves the dilemma of same-direction wheels to around-the-cabin wheels. Pure unadulterated awesome.
wow,the potential for this is boundless
Really impressive demonstration. I'm interested in seeing the real world applications of such a device. Perhaps children's toys could be the first to utilize this technology once the cost of development goes down.
wow this thing is big, there can be so many applications and opportunities for the use of this
the potential of this machine is astounding
very impressive. engineers got a robot to feel gravity and compensate. I did want to see the guy hit one of the corners and see how(if?) the robots could correct for it
You could probably make the whole thing even more stable by making it enclosed around the ball, extending it toward like the equator of the ball, gripping it.
When students build cool things like this, it's usually to test some new idea. A robot which balances on a ball has to make a lot of adjustments, quick responses, and so forth. It's not hard to think that there could be very practical applications for that sort of rapid sensing, response, etc., whether the exact application of a robot balancing on a ball is or not.
And I doubt it cost a million dollars. Robotics is a LOT cheaper than it used to be.
it's seeing things like this that inspire me to continue studying mechanical engineering
Amazing. The possibilities with this are endless!
DUDE! Great idea just popped in. One "balled" segways. Awesomeness. This Lab should really start selling these btw.
To me it looks like the wheels that make contact with the sphere are actually "double wheels". Spinning on 2 axis. There's the obvious 3 wheels that would make the ball spin in a circle. Then there is also cylindrical wheels (rollers) going around the outside edge of each of the 3 wheels. So, basically a wheel on a wheel.
It would be interesting to see how the robot does on different floor types, shaggy carpet, rough tile or maybe even a slippery surface. It looks really cool. :)
This could put to great use in any industry or even in the household
Don't you just love how this will benefit future generations?
The basis of this technology may very well be the next major step in the evolution of the wheel.
So many possible uses for this. Thats amazing!
well thank god we have one of those in production.
I think this demonstrates that instead on using a wheel for robots to move around, you could use balls as replacement. And i think its the quick shift in directions that is most impressive. I think this would be a great replacement for castor wheels. But the price could be hell.
I love this video, but I would prefer narration of how the robot works. They look super cool.
Best development this year!
This was 4 years ago, how is it going? This is all we need for a house robot.
Mikael Murstam
This comment was made 4 years ago. How’s it going?
OMG!
I see hundreds of ways this can be used... this technology may change the future.
Awesome. They show all the implementations for this... but I just see the shot glasses.
Awesome. There are many many directed uses for this technology and I am unsure there are many more spin off technologies to be gained from it too.
I'm so glad you're done.
genuinely made my jaw drop this looks crazy
I think you guys are missing the point which is "Equilibrium" It is a fundmantal stage in real robotics that are more humnoid. So far the Humoniod bots have been slow and cumbersom. Improving the equilibrium improves their agility. Artificial balancing capability is what is on show.
I could see this being useful for stretchers for emergency or hospital use. Or for just a really cool, overly-priced desk chair.
Incredibly stupid and ingenious at the same time. Just incredible.
i wonder what is the ball made up of? so perfectly smooth and doesn't bend due to the stress!
Very cool. They could be very useful helpers for workers, or elderly or disabled people. Even if they are not “intelligent” but can be guided with gentle touch to carry a heavy loads.
You know, this could revolutionize logistics industry.
That's beautiful!
The very first thing I thought was, "Human transportation." This sort of technology would be revolutionary in almost every aspect of transportation. The future is here.
@Smartlack Probably for people who are handicapped that live home alone, an item such as a glass of water or plate of food already placed on the robot. The handicapped person can simply drive the robot and its ball (I know that sounds wrong but bare with me) to the handicapped person, without standing :) Very clever and amazing piece of technology.
wow this could be helpful in so many ways
This is one of those things, love it! Quite a work of art, but please, to makers, get yourself someone with a video mind and do DECENT video of your REALLY amazing robots.
@MyRoomStudio1 I am assuming that the robots have very precise accelerometers inside them, so if it tilts slightly in any direction, a computer system (inside or outside the robot) will decide what direction it is tilting in, and it will turn one or more of the wheels to counteract the tilt, this way it will stay balanced. The top of the robot is small and flat, so the robot cannot balance another object on that. The frame cannot balance itself, so it requires a human to balance it on the robot.
I think this looks super cool.. :)
@MyRoomStudio1 If there are two robots opposite each other, then they should be able to balance, I agree with you there. The frame is about 4 feet wide, so it is much wider than a board. You cannot keep a bicycle upright on 2 tires, but a tricycle easily stays upright. A board is small so it will easily balance on top of the robots, but the frame itself will be hard to balance because it is much wider than a board. It can be done,. but it is much easier and safer with 3 robots than 2.
just superb!!! one the best inventions i've seen so far and Don'T Forget to Respect for Japans!!! They are best at engineering!!!
@gnoooo
Wind is not an issue, as in one mode it would compensate for it, in other mode you would manually compensate for wind.
Non flat ground is not a problem too, up to a certain degree
(when it's too steep it will just lose it's ball in this robot configuration shown in the video)
however there are robots with attached ball.
The worst thing for this kind of robot is the loss of grip: either ball to surface, or rollers to ball; so wet weather and icy road would be the worst for such robot.
This could be the beginning of something really great !
So this is an exotic version of the wheel...nice
@Dot12 he's using it to change which setting he is on, like passive mode, etc.
Awesome this could be really significant. People might be using vehicles using this technologey someday.
lots of practical potential for this prototype...
the rector of the university where this study left us the same project as coursework but have not the slightest idea how to begin to do
Wow! This will help us because it's another step toward low cost, flexible robotics, we're in the same place with robotics that we were in 1990 with personal computing, the first roomba was sold in 2002, the first apple computer 1976. Robotics are moving much faster than PCs. Look at the Stanford driving robots for examples.
if applied right, this would be amazing in industry mobility. Moving heavy payloads with ease.
Notice, this is the same technology that Detective Spooner's car uses to move, this is definitely full of potential.
robot: i can balance on a ball
russian circus bear: hold my bear beer
Always possible: a land drone which dodges land mines while shooting enemy soldiers or something like that.
But a lot of military stuff eventually makes it into the civilian world. The swords are eventually beaten into plowshares... well, we always keep a few unbeaten swords around just in case. But some of them, we beat into plowshares.
Congratulations. You have invented the swivel wheel.
@tupacyupanqui It's not so quite difficult calculation, it is implemented on 16bit MCU. The control is done in two horizontal axes. For each axis, lean angle, its velocity, position and velocity (four state variables with four gains) are used. Pivoting is additional to balance control. As in IEEE spectrum article, the idea to control this kind of robot had been already proposed in 1970s.
Reinventing the wheel?
Cool things, that must have been difficult. Weird reusing of purposes already used, but I'm sure you'll find a unique never before seen use.
That is really awesome - I hope that the project progresses beyond the scientists wildest dreams.
@pb0o6 Thanks for explaining something I didn't ask for. You're a true hero.
If there's ever a robot riot in the future, I sincerely hope that it's these guys.
Easy win.
This is not made from Legos. This is made by Dr. Masaaki Kumagai, director of the Robot Development Engineering Laboratory at Tohoku Gakuin University, in Tagajo City, Japan.
This has significant industrial applications, let me know if your willing to manufacture these.
WOW!! Those balls were amazing!! Especialy the blue one!!
Amazing!
I can imagine lots of applications in industry.
Well done!!
@evilbunnyo I can think of several uses for this. It could be adapted for any number of devices that could make it easier on freight crews in large stores. Because they can move in any direction they could be perfect for wheelbarrow like devices for flat surfaces or with 4 or more you could make a very maneuverable fork lift. You could also easily make novelty vehicles or eventually, by making them able to clime slopes, you could have a car that takes no effort to parallel park in a tiny space.
The problem I see with this is that it doesn't really do anything a wheel doesn't.
Being able to turn any ball into a wheel, though, that's nice.
@ozzyt9 10kg isn't a ton of weight, and that part of the video is moving at 1.2 times actual speed, making it seem like it's an easy weight to pick up (which is it even without the increased speed on the video)
Finally someone makes a round wheel
Why isn't this at my house bringing me hotwings or beer? Shut up and take my money!
Very cool! Lots of applications.
Excellent work! Keep it up!! I think that would be a great help for many people!
Amazing! Great idea, you could make vehicles driven by this method.
it could be used in developing stabilizers for buildings in tremor/earthquake prone areas...
Dude, wheelbarrows would be so much better if they were made with those things.
@southcanada you could carry large objects without the need of someone, as shown in this video, you could create a sort of big table and move it around with only one hand
Add support limbs for maximum balance. Test maximum performance. Test for personal transport. Test for safety & performance.
its amazing what ppl can do nowadays
its like having something with wheels with all the complications of a giant electronical device! :D
2010? Why have we not seen this 9 years later?
one step closer to a fully robotic version of ringling bros circus.
Very cool, best robot I ever seen, will come in very useful in the future
i can see it now, a chair with ball-wheel that can carry you ANYWHERE while you sleep, awesomeness :))
With some work, this could be used in construction sites to help move heavy objects.
Good Job :)
invention of the year possibly?!
Watching this I just have to imagine an omni-directional vehicle that has four of these as 'wheels.'
You should get the robots to communicate and use them as a propulsion system. The mobility of such a vehicle would be astounding. They would have to have "balls of steel" (haha) or something in order to bear the weight and resist wear, but if you could create a good braking system to go along with this I think it would work rather nicely.
@TheTrueBlueBrizze
That's what people said about the Segway. And while the Segway itself was a flop, the people who use the wheelchairs based on the tech seem to appreciate it.
This has far more potential uses than you're thinking about currently.