Summary
For this project, a classmate and I took on the challenge of creating a self-balancing robot as part of our studies, where we needed to implement a PID controller. The robot was designed to balance a green ball on a platform by dynamically adjusting its tilt, showcasing our understanding of control systems and our ability to integrate AI and robotics.
The setup involved three servos mounted beneath the platform, connected with rubber bands to enable precise tilting in any direction. The platform's tilt allowed the ball to move as needed to stay centered. We utilized AI to detect the plank on which the ball was positioned and another AI system, along with a camera, to track the green ball's movement.
Communication between the robot and a Python server running on a laptop was established using serial communication. The server processed the ball's current position and target coordinates, then sent this data to the Arduino. The Arduino used the PID controller to calculate how each servo should adjust to tilt the platform correctly, ensuring the ball stayed balanced in the desired location.
