SOHO security with mini self‐balancing robots

Purpose – To present the design and control of a low cost, two‐wheeled, self‐balancing robot for detecting and reporting fire and intruders in a small home/office setting. Design/methodology/approach – Implement an intelligent control system to make up for instabilities of low‐cost components. Findings – Biologically inspired suppression system can effectively eliminate undesired sensor noises. Research limitations/implications – Improving self‐balancing robots' tolerant to impulsive forces from the sides allows them to be designed with smaller front‐prints. Practical implications – Inherited high maneuverability together with miniature design enables self‐balancing robots to navigate smoothly through tight space. Originality/value – Demonstrates the control of a dynamically unstable system can be controlled using a simple suppression mechanism.