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The PID controller is one of the first things taught to engineering students and designers. Its simplicity and versatility make it easy to understand and implement. This ball balancer uses the PID feedback loop to balance a marble perfectly on the center of a beam. Additionally, it contains interactive LEDs which gauge the relative position of the marble. It also utilizes one of the most well-known simple machines: the lever.

The device is driven by a prototype of Glo Rev 2, a new RGB LED strip controller. If you are interested in the project, check out the website for Glo Rev 2, which will launch on Kickstarter soon! The new chip is WiFi compatible, works with Amazon Echo/Google Home, and has plenty of I/O to add modifications.

Supplies:
- Polycarbonate Sheet
- Wooden Dowels
- Brass Rod
- LED Channel and Diffuser
- Glo Rev 2 Microcontroller (or other MCU)
- Servo
- Vl53L0X LIDAR
- Jumper Wires

Tools:
- Hot Glue Gun
- Plastic Cutter
- Soldering Iron”

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