How to Build a Segway Skateboard

Using the open source Arduino micro controller and a mini motor you can easily turn a regular skateboard into a Self-balancing Segway Skateboard in no time. Of course, before you begin, you'd have to add some sensors to your deck as well, that would help you accurately balance on top of the Segway-looking wheels. But, the self-balancing capabilities of this little gadget are great enough that you can simply toss it onto the ground, keep balanced and go! It's lightweight and you can carry it around with you wherever you like, thanks to the built-in gyros and accelerometers, and it's completely self-contained so no wiring is required whatsoever.

The whole idea is actually very simple. You start by laying down the black plastic base with the long screws and bolts on it. Next you lay down the wheels, then attach the small, silver, or gold step attachments to the wheels (these attach the base to the deck). You can also use the small screwdriver that comes with most Segway skateboards to lock the wheels in place, if they come with such a feature.

One of the cool features of the Self-balancing Skateboard is the clever little "step-in" trigger that keeps the skateboard wheels from wobbling when you step on them. This makes the process much easier, but the problem with the self-balancing design is that it tends to over-smooth out the wheels, so they don't have quite the smoothness that you'd expect for a skateboard deck. Thankfully, all you have to do to correct this is to apply a little pressure to the trigger, giving you the ability to gently press down on the axle of one of the wheels until you get a nice friction fit that balances the wheel out.

The great thing about the Self-balancing Skateboard is that it's very easy to build. It only takes about two hours for someone with average intelligence to be able to put together a functional, reliable self balancing skateboard. But there's an additional bonus to this design: It's actually pretty easy to repair! In fact, I'll show you how below!

To repair the Self-balancing Skateboard, simply remove the wheel sprockets, and take out the old motor. Reconnect the motor and the axle of the wheels and put everything back together. When you're sure you've done everything right, lay down some more plastic balsa to act as a diffuser (this helps reduce vibrations in your board). Then connect the two new motors. Use the screws provided to attach the motor wires to the corresponding terminals on the batteries, and attach the skateboard to the frame.

The next step is simple; you just need to attach the hand controller to the arduino through the input pins. You should plug the hand controller into an arguing Mega2560. Once you plug in the hand controller, attach the sensors to the sensor's pads, and voila - you now have a functioning skateboard! If you have trouble reading the schematics, check out my other instructables for detailed instructions.