Future tech trends | and beyond
Self balancing technology is not new, but it has made its way to all parts of the industry in the last couple of years. From smartphones and game console controllers to self balancing pool tables and one-wheel scooters, this technology is changing and improving almost every aspect of our lives. But what is really self balancing technology doing? How does it really work?
As we said before, this technology has been around longer than anyone might think, but to better understand it we will start right from the beginning. So without further ado, here is how self balancing technology really works.
The “big secret” is in gyroscope
The self balancing technology dates all the way back to ancient Rome, Greece and China. These great countries in their time invented the gyroscope, a clever little device that is a base for all today’s self balancing devices. Even to this day, there is no better way to achieve self balance than to use the gyroscope. But what is this contraption and how does it work?
To better explain this, we will need to use some technical phrases so pay close attention. The secret behind the gyroscope always being in balance is in its free axis rotation. Basically, the gyroscope is a spinning wheel, or a disk, which has completely free axis of rotation and it is able to assume any random orientation. Because the axis is free, no amount of tilting or moving can affect its balance.
Gyroscope is not enough
Now that you know how gyroscopes work, there is one thing you need to know as well. Unfortunately, gyroscopes, by themselves, are not enough to keep a device like a self balancing scooter in balance. Even though these scooters don’t require a big workout from your body, in order to stay aligned and balanced you will need to use your core muscles. Unlike cycling where you stay balanced by moving forward, on self balancing scooters you use your core muscles to keep your alignment straight.
This can even be some kind of a workout for your abdominal muscles, including abs and lower back. Also, the more you do it – the better you become. That means that despite this being a self balancing device, it requires quite a bit of practice to keep it straight.
Self balancing technology is not just for showing off
The first thing that people think when you present them with a hoverboard is that it’s only a gimmick and the real use for it is nonexistent. Those people are hugely mistaken. Self balancing devices are practical and have their use in almost all areas of our lives. But if we are talking specifically about hoverboards than they can be a next big thing in human transport.
With every new model, we see that its usefulness grows. They are getting smaller so they are easier to carry and put away. They can travel longer distances and charge more quickly so you can rely on them to take you from point A to point B without any worries. Their true potential is yet to be seen in the next couple of years.
The future of self balancing technology
These are just some of the basics on how self balancing technology works. There is a lot more room for improvement and use, but in order to reach the limit of self balancing technology, we will need to do a lot more research. As with everything that has commercial use, the only way technology will advance in this sector is if it becomes mainstream and widely used.
We have already seen, in the last few years, the rise in popularity of hoverboards and similar devices. A few years ago no one would have ever thought that hoverboards could be balanced without handles and we can see now with the latest models that even that is within our reach.
We hope that we made things a bit clearer for you when it comes to self balancing technology. We are yet to see the full scope of these devices and their use, but from what we are seeing now the future will be a lot more interesting.
