Inverted Pendulum Exhibit for the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Abstract

This project involves designing, building, and testing a new exhibit, representative of mechatronic systems, for the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. The design team worked on an inverted pendulum system that balances a free pendulum in its inverted position using a motor controlled arm, optical encoders, and feedback controls. In addition to this motor controlled system, two manually-controlled inverted pendulums were also designed and built. These manual systems are of different sizes to demonstrate the effect that size and mass have on the system. This exhibit will teach museum visitors about feedback controls and the field of mechatronic systems.