I Built an Omni-Directional Ball-Wheeled Bike [video] | Hacker News Reader

I Built an Omni-Directional Ball-Wheeled Bike [video]

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119 pointskissgyorgy16 comments

If you haven't been following his work, the entire channel is worth checking out. Lots of interesting robotics projects!

https://www.youtube.com/@jamesbruton/videos

I've always had the impression that James is too wasteful, overengineering, printing massive, impractical plastic things that actually don't need proof they will work because they have precedents, like circus clowns walking on big balls in this case.

Now, seeing all the effort he goes into explaining what he's doing, how, why, and him open sourcing CAD and code, I get it. This is wonderful teaching for product engineers, and while James understandably has to teach sure-fire projects because he wants sponsors to stick, his viewers can use the learning to try riskier projects.

I'm thankful for him going all the way to the very end of engineering dead-end alleys if only to keep others from wasting their time.

Wasteful? It's for entertainment on YouTube...what a nonsense take.

Maybe read to the end of the comment.

I would make the balls green for green screening them and make it look like it’s floating

My understanding is that it doesn't matter what the color is, so long as it's one solid evenly-lit thing that doesn't appear elsewhere so that you've got the easiest time replacing it with transparency

Either way, that is a great idea!

You are Internet King for the day, this is amazing! Not sure if there is a gyro keeping the seat stable and upright, didn’t seem necessary until he ended up on his butt when going too fast hahhahaha Love this!

Looks great for doing donuts somewhere, but it never looked practical for useful travel in a straight line. Would other materials like tire rubber reduce the negative effects of the balls getting dirty? Add some sort of squeeze to it so the surface is self-cleaning maybe?

Magnetic rubber-coated balls that levitate in the bearing cavity, that you set in motion through electromagnets mounted in the bearing..?

Not to mention one pothole and you’re swallowing your teeth.

Honestly it was a bit disconcerting watching him test ride that thing.

He should have been at least wearing a bicycle helmet.

We saw a couple of stumbles and get offs, and, were the software more nefarious, he could have likely easily been lawn darted into that floor and not necessarily been the better for it.

Yeah, but until we see that video, people will just think it’s just a bunch of Nannie’s getting over protective

When I was younger I had cat-like reflexes and prided myself on being able to take a fall without bonking my head.

But if I were filming something for others, or god forbid that my parents would see, I'm wearing a helmet. Maybe pads as well. Both on general principle and Murphy's Law. The moment you record yourself doing something dumb, it's gonna become evidence for the insurance company.

Ive Seen this the other day and practicality is unknown but it’s great and uplifting at the same time. I enjoy seeing the product of what people enjoy doing without any external forces or financial incentives.

I agree it’s a cool video. But fame and popularity aren’t external forces? YouTube ad revenue isn’t a financial incentive?

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