[chbot] Balancing robots

[QtuTrains]

If you think Hanno's balancing robot is interesting just take a look  
at this:

http://www.powerchair-review.fsnet.co.uk/ibot-4000-transporter-full- 
review.htm

The manufacture's site is http://www.ibotnow.com/ but I couldn't get  
it to respond when I looked.

Its a wheelchair that can rise onto two wheels and balance with a  
person sat in it.

It can also climb stairs!

We saw one today at the Canterbury museum (not an exhibit!) and the  
owner said it was the only one in New Zealand.

It looked amazingly stable - much less oscillation to keep upright  
than Hanno has achieved thus far. Naturally it uses gyroscopes for  
balance, perhaps accelerometers too but the owner wasn't too much  
into the technical details.

The point of balancing is improved manoeuvrability and visibility  
through increased height which was obviously useful in the museum.

Howard