World's First Automatic Strike Bowling Ball

Summary

The video script details the creation of a trick bowling ball that can be steered by the bowler's body movements. The inventor, inspired by the asymmetry of a standard bowling ball, collaborates with a toy designer to engineer a mechanism resembling BB-8. The ball is equipped with an inertial measurement unit that communicates with a servo motor, altering its center of gravity to turn. After initial trials, the team perfects the ball's performance, achieving strikes by hitting pins at a specific angle. The video concludes with a fun bowling session where the inventor's 'Jedi powers' impress friends and family.

Takeaways

• 🎳 The bowling ball described in the script is designed to turn in the direction the bowler leans, suggesting a high-tech modification.
• 🛠️ The ball is constructed from a real bowling ball, which is found to be asymmetrical with the center of mass not at the center point.
• 🔩 A friend with a machine shop, Mark, hollows out the ball to make room for the internal mechanism.
• ✈️ The creator travels to London to collaborate with James Bruton, a mechanical and electrical engineer with a background in toy design.
• 🤖 The mechanism inside the ball is inspired by BB-8 from Star Wars, aiming for a similar functionality.
• 📡 The bowler controls the ball's direction by leaning, which is detected by an inertial measurement unit (IMU) on their back.
• 📶 The IMU sends signals to the ball via radio waves, which are received and processed to adjust the ball's direction.
• 🤖 An Arduino and a servo motor inside the ball work together to rotate a heavy pendulum, changing the center of gravity and turning the ball.
• 🎯 To achieve a strike, the ball must hit the pins at an angle between three and six degrees off center.
• 😅 Initially, the creator struggles to get strikes due to incorrect technique but eventually masters it.
• 🎉 The final test with family friends at a local bowling alley demonstrates the ball's effectiveness and the fun it brings.

Q & A

What is the main feature of the bowling ball described in the script?

The bowling ball has a mechanism that allows it to be steered by the bowler's body movements, specifically by leaning in the desired direction.

How long has the idea for this bowling ball been on the creator's bucket list?

The idea for the bowling ball has been on the creator's bucket list for over three years.

What was the first step in creating the trick bowling ball?

The first step was to understand the internal structure of a regular bowling ball, which revealed that they are not symmetrical.

Who helped hollow out the bowling ball?

The creator's friend Mark, who owns a machine shop, hollowed out the bowling ball using a lathe.

Why did the creator need to go to London?

The creator went to London to meet James Bruton, a mechanical and electrical engineer genius who used to be a toy designer, to help with the engineering design of the ball.

What is the role of the inertial measurement unit in the bowling ball system?

The inertial measurement unit is attached to the bowler's back and senses the bowler's orientation, sending commands to the ball to turn in the direction the bowler leans.

How does the ball receive commands from the bowler?

The ball has a receiver that gets the signal from the inertial measurement unit via radio waves.

What component in the ball controls the movement of the heavy pendulum?

An Arduino, which serves as the brains of the operation, tells the servo motor how much to rotate.

How does the heavy pendulum affect the ball's trajectory?

The servo motor rotates the heavy pendulum, which alters the center of gravity of the ball, causing it to turn in the direction the bowler leans.

What is the optimal angle for the ball to approach the pins for a strike?

The optimal angle for the ball to approach the pins for a strike is between three and six degrees from the point directly in front of the pins.

What is the purpose of the limit switch on the bowling ball system?

The limit switch is used to toggle the ball's steering ability on and off, allowing the bowler to bowl normally without assistance when needed.