In 2009, Elektor published the ElektorWheelie, a DIY, two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered vehicle inspired by the Segway PT, which was then hailed as the future of personal transportation. The ElektorWheelie brought this exciting new self-balancing technology to within makers’ reach. Now, some 15 years later, we introduce what we call the Elektor Mini-Wheelie.

The Mini-Wheelie

While the Elektor Mini-Wheelie operates on the same principles as its larger predecessor, its purpose has changed. Instead of transporting you from point A to B (riding it is strongly discouraged), the Mini-Wheelie serves as an experimental, autonomous, self-balancing robot platform.

Elektor Mini-Wheelie

Powered by an ESP32-S3 microcontroller, the robot is fully programmable using the Arduino environment and open-source libraries. Its wireless capabilities enable remote control via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or ESP-NOW. They also allow for communication with a user or even another robot. An ultrasonic sensor facilitates obstacle detection, while its color display can show cute facial expressions or — for the more practically inclined — cryptic debug messages.

The board

Specifications

The robot comes as a neatly packaged kit that requires self-assembly. Everything you need, even a screwdriver, is included.

  • ESP32-S3 microcontroller with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
  • MPU6050 inertial measurement unit (IMU)
  • Two independently controlled 12 V electric motors with tachometer
  • Ultrasonic transducer
  • 320×240-pixel TFT color display
  • microSD card slot
  • Battery power monitor
  • 3S (11.1 V, 2200 mAh) rechargeable Li-Po battery (including charger)
  • Arduino-based open-source software
  • Dimensions (w/l/h): 23 × 8 × 13 cm

You can purchase an Elektor Mini-Wheelie in the Elektor Store.

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