Gyroscopic Stabilization of Unstable Vehicles

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to design and build a cart that will demonstrate gyroscopic stabilization. The gyroscope will balance the vehicle by countering external torques acting on the cart, with its own internal torque, that it creates from rotational inertia. When an external torque is applied to the gyroscope, it will react by turning on an axis that is perpendicular to both the spin axis and torque axis. The motion of the gyroscope will be sensed and controlled. The goal of this project is to manufacture a functioning model that stabilizes itself if its equilibrium is disturbed.