Modeling Dynamics and Exploring Control of a Single-Wheeled Dynamically Stable Mobile Robot with Arms

This paper focuses on simulations of a dynamically stable mobile robot (Ballbot) with arms. The simulations are of Ballbot lifting its arms in various directions. A PD arm controller works independently of an LQR-designed balancing/station keeping controller. The PD controller drives the arms to follow desired trajectories. When the arms are raised, Ballbot assumes a leaning equilibrium (the physical equilibrium) as opposed to the standing equilibrium (body stands totally upright - a predefined desired equilibrium) that the LQR drives toward. The conflict between these two equilibria causes the robot to lose its balance when lifting heavy (10 kg) loads. A unified arm and station keeping/balancing controller is also described. The unified controller outperforms the independent controllers in some cases. Balancing only using arms and driving body movement with arms are briefly explored.