Handheld container stabilizer

Abstract: Self-stabilizing systems can be found in many contexts. They are used in aircraft and camera gimbals to name a few. In this project, a self-stabilizing container was constructed. The construction consists of three parts. An inner ring which rotates around the Z-axis, an outer ring which rotates around the Y-axis and a handle with space for three DC motors and a microcontroller. In this project an Arduino Nano was used. To detect inclination an IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) was deployed. An IMU is a sensor consisting of three gyroscopes and three accelerometers, one for each coordinate axis. The software for the construction consists of four parts; angle reading, a Kalman filter, two PID-controllers and a motor controller. When a container is inserted into the construction the four-part system keeps the container horizontal and stable. Experimental data shows that in 84% of the tests the construction could stabilize the container.