How to Build Balancing Scooter

Building a self balancing scooter became sort of tradition for hobbyists to prove their skills in electronics, software and hardware development. The whole story started when Segway was introduced to the market and its relatively high price suggested it to be a masterpiece of technology, but is it really so difficult to build such self balancing scooter yourself?

Ever since the idea of building such a balancing robot, or even better, a proper balanced scooter one which I could ride to work, came into my mind, I simply could not get it out of my head. I had to challenge my skills and build one myself. This page shows you my approach to building such a device, which in the end turns out to be probably the cheapest solution to the problem.

Front View

Side View

Cheap Base Components

My goal was to build it using cheapest components I could buy on eBay or in the local shops. Breakthrough happened when I found an eBay offer with two second-hand electric scooters (Made in China) including some extra spare parts. This way I got two brushed permanent magnet 24VDC/250W motors (MY1016) with tooth sprockets, two chains, wheels including proper gears mounted on them and a set of 4 lead-acid batteries (each 12V/12AH). And guess - whole package was mine for about €150 (about $180).

Having two wheels, motors, chains and a set of batteries, my prototype of Segway, the dreamed about balancing scooter, was missing only solid frame with a platform for the driver and custom made electronics to be driven by self made software. Most difficult for me was actually that mechanical construction of the frame, then came electronics and the easiest was the software part.

Wooden Frame and Wooden Balancing Scooter

You are probably thinking now in the same way as my colleagues at work. Huh. Yes, I decided to stand and balance on the scooter frame made out of wood! Why wood? Wood is easy to handle at home, cheap, elastic and can be glued to provide very solid construction. Many planes have been made from wood in the past to great success, so why not? And how could anyone tell me that it is impossible ;)

Wooden Parts	Scooter Frame
Motor Driver	Bottom View

Links to Related Pages

• Segway (official site)
• Building a Balancing Scooter (by Trevor Blackwell)
• Balancing One-Wheeled Scooter (by Ben Smither)
• Balancing Robot Project (by Ted Larson)

Scoobe Videos

Wooden Balancing Scooter (Part 1 of 3)

Wooden Balancing Scooter (Part 2 of 3)

Wooden Balancing Scooter (Part 3 of 3)