I Engineered a Robotic Ball Balancing Table!

Welcome back to Scrap Mechanic! Today I want to build a table that automatically balances a ball on it, trying to keep it centered!
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Scrap Mechanic is a multiplayer sandbox game with imagination and ingenuity at its core. Create fantastic machines, transforming vehicles or sneaky traps. The possibilities are endless with Scrap Mechanics powerful tools.
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[@omegafalconoriginal]

Scrapman: today I build a ball balancing table. End of video Scrapman: thanks for watching today's video about orbital mechanics and spacetime fabric manipulations.

[@TINYgiant0222]

Exactly!!

[@dragoningw2415]

Technically it is a mathematical approximation of gravity without the inverse square law

[@omegafalconoriginal]

@@dragoningw2415 and now my brain is overloading

[@KiwiSenseiYT]

​@@omegafalconoriginalnever trust anyone using ooccoo as their profile pic, they're clearly trying to give people nightmares

[@TINYgiant0222]

At 16:00 That's pretty much a gravitational orbit lol Leave it to Scrapman to casually and unknowingly perfectly display a mechanic of physics without realizing it!

[@yertzar775]

actually makes a lot of sense. He basically created a gravitational potential well lol. The reason is that the sensors only trigger when the ball passes the middle. So, for the ball, that thing is just a angles table instead of a table that tilts. Pretty funny actually

[@Hadeks_Marow]

So here's some fun ideas to take this concept to the extreme: - Zero Friction Net Blocks to replaces the thing the ball rolls on. - Replace the ball with a Zero Friction Net Block cube of the same dimensions as the ball. - Pulsing Pistons to achieve the "gradual sense" that you wanted or just do 5 different 1 distance pistons instead of 1 single 5 distance piston (though the math doesn't exactly math on that cause compressed isn't "as" compressed).

[@6Saturn9]

Or... another idea would be to use the prototype he has to make an APPP (auto play ping pong) machine.

[@lennelbalando5615]

I never thought watching balls endlessly roll around moving platforms would be this enjoyable. Scrapman feels like a Science teacher I would have loved to have, and the creativity and experimentation in this video was really awesome as always.

[@mikhail_from_afar]

For the gradual control you just need to stack the pistons. So, depending on the distance to the center, you can activate only one piston to extend, or two, or three. I think it would be interesting to see a bigger, more complex version.

[@mikhail_from_afar]

This method would also allow speed control - different sets of pistons can have different speeds.

[@Forgetyoubob]

Was looking for this comment

[@metalhev3989]

Alternate title: Scrapman creates gravity in scrap mechanic

[@mrbeeznz5196]

This is a problem that is usually solved with PID control, but unfortunately it is very difficult to emulate PID properly using only logic gates

[@irrelevantsafety]

What is a PID?

[@Daedalus-Inc]

@irrelevantsafety Proportional Integral Derivative. A software function used for course correction generally. (P)roportional is simple. For every unit a value is off from what it is supposed to be, it increases another value by a set amount. (I.E. for every meter a robot is off from their autonomous path, add 1 meter per second of velocity towards the path.) Derivative and integral… I know what they are in calculus but I have no idea how they operate in a PID loop. Just adjust the number and maybe the robot will drive better.

[@nikkiofthevalley]

​​@@Daedalus-IncDerivative is a kind of "damping term". Integral compensates for past behavior in a way. (difficult to explain, Wikipedia has a good explanation of the terms if you're mathematically inclined)

[@Retrodogo]

you could make it with binary with logic like 1 2 4 8 ... but its a bit technical

[@mrbeeznz5196]

@@Retrodogo you might have trouble doing differentiation and integration in scrap mechanic

[@Burrito_Legend]

24:42 haha, you flinched!

[@durarda5711]

i like the way the table gets frustrated and yeets the ball when it fails

[@clairelauseng2593]

Set up 4 pistons to 4 high then raise and lower by 4 for the white ring, 3 for the blue ring, 2 for red ring and 1 for yellow ring so you have a range of: 8-0, 7-1, 6-2 and 5-3. This idea was made at 12:49 of the video.

[@AgentWest]

There absolutely are piston pulser circuits for SM what would have allowed better table control. Basically a double stack of pistons pulse opposite of each other so that top block stays level, but that pulsing allows for changing length of the stack in 15 steps instead of 2 (off/on). There are videos about it, but to describe it with words: AND > NOR > OR logic loop with an XNOR to the side, getting signal from OR in the loop. An on/off switch goes into AND. "Down" button goes into XNOR and NOR. "Up" button goes into NOR, OR, and XNOR. One piston gets power from AND while second one from XNOR. Set pistons to the same settings and off you go!

[@Psycorde]

I think this is what Kan used in one of his survival vehicles for resource harvesting, I couldn't wrap my head around it

[@AgentWest]

@@Psycorde That was, yes. The basic idea is that because pistons have to keep moving, you just offset extending one with retracting another. The circuit is just a fancier version of a OR-NOR-OR pulser/repeater commonly used anywhere you need to continuously repeat an action (planting, watering, that sort of stuff).

[@MrRed1928]

"Auto balance" is the scariest word of TF2

[@JoaoFelipe-gm3pq]

*overtime*

[@mr_pigman1013]

@@JoaoFelipe-gm3pqnot the pub push

[@Mr_chopp_chopp]

Guys we’re winning !!!! - oh…

[@hdmi-pq3qd]

Thats two words

[@deadvenom4994]

@9:48 You might be getting old Scrap. Enjoying the process of hooking it all up is similar to the satisfaction you get from sowing.

[@marshaenderheart]

I assume you meant sewing

[@Ekipsogel]

Sowing is planting seeds. Sewing is said sowing but is different.

[@PasiFourmyle]

16:20 reminds me of how an orbit is described.

[@PasiFourmyle]

Constantly falling, but fast enough to keep its distance from the center mass.

[@royalphrog]

you should use mods that allow you to change the pistons speed and distance settings to more precise numbers (ask kan he knows all about this) Im sure this would be laggy but why dont you add pistons per color / tier so you can have the "gradual angle change" Also why not try using a totebot ragdoll as the ball as they are ussually good at rolling

[@theno3554]

What mod gives controllable pistons? I have been looking for one

[@royalphrog]

@@theno3554 Im sorry im not sure of the name but i remember seeing kan make a "drift car" and he used a 0.9 piston

[@FreddieStarWars]

@@theno3554 The modpack

[@thechh8297]

I think the mod that gives the perfect ball balancing table would be better in this situation

[@Retrodogo]

its callled "The Modpack" or rather known recently as "The Modpack Continuation" just for the people here.

[@snotrod7]

I’m blown away Scrap. Sometimes I think about how LONG you’ve been making daily videos. It’s been years of non stop daily content. Kudos dude.

[@Banan11-mw1nn]

There's one red painted block that's too far from the centre... Enjoy!!

[@irrelevantsafety]

You evil person for mentioning that

[@GlorifiedToaster1]

Sorry, I don't speak British

[@_DoorStop_]

sorry what is "centre".. some weird british word??

[@Grunk-ik9os]

To have a varying angle, you just need to stack pistons to 2 expansion and 2 contraction on each corner. Then have your white field sensors go into 2 each and your blue field sensors go into 1 each (like you have all your sensors hooked up now).

[@B1G.H]

This was really fun, please more

[@blakethepersonwhoreallydoe6907]

You could do a) sensors on a specific radius be specific piston lengths (have like 5 pistons set to 2 distance and then each corresponds to a different circle of sensors. Each sensor closer to the center triggers one less piston. This would give you more angle definition. B) to accurately get diagonal precision you would have to split each sensor circle’s quadrants into parts that variable activate those gates for the lateral piston movements from part a (similar to how you did it here. What you could do is (if continuing the 5-piston model I referred to earlier) split each axis of the square sensor plate into 10ths and then put an output from each sensor in its corresponding part into an “or” gate. If you do this for the +/- of the x and the z axis you could then just hook each tenth into the corresponding +/- 5th of that axis’ piston definition.

[@CryoiX]

The one that was just keeping the ball in a smooth orbit was kinda beautiful

[@johncage5368]

That was great. IMHO one of the most interesting experiments you've ever done! Very good setup for vanilla and confirmed by the ball doing a nice orbit in certain situations. (BTW: With the logic blocks and pistons from "The Modpack" you could do the balancing more nuanced the way you mentioned, steering more when the ball is further out. In theory you could even get it to "drop the ball where ever, even with a little horizontal and it navigates it to the middle fast in a straight line and keeps it there". That's not super easy though.) Idea for a direct follow up video with vanilla parts: Have two identical builds, based on a very similar setup you have now and bounce a ball back and forth between them (in a friendly way, not trying to make the other player drop it).

[@joseguilherme12]

Man, i love those building and experimentations videos so much

[@35manning]

Two simple tips for next time... When using zones of sensors, connect all those sensors to a single OR logic gate. Then connect each zone OR gate to the tilt logic. It will be about half of the logic connections. The second tip, is use two pistons at each corner. Piston 1 will move a short distance at a slow speed. Piston 2 will move twice the distance at twice the speed. Take your eight directional sensor zones and split them up into three distance zones. The inner zone will trigger piston 1 only, the middle zone will trigger piston 2 only, the outer zone will trigger piston 1 and 2 together. Now, this isn't a tip but rather a suggestion on how to use this for fun. Swap the floor for cardboard blocks and replace the sensors with challenge mode player sensors, placed low enough to be obvious when you have fallen through. Build Spleef vehicles using one single wheel and low friction blocks. Configure the logic zones to trigger when two or more players are detected. Enjoy the chaos...

[@allenforbes8108]

Self leveling pool tables from cruise ships.

[@theoseym1368]

Try using these mechanics as an added challenge to spleef maps for your two friends, scrap. Tilting floors, and breaking the floor in one. They have to micromanage dealing with the floor, and trying not to fall off. Hopefully this suggestion is possible. Maybe a spleef balance board challenge. I'll let the creative mind build up on that.

[@vladimirputin3426]

scrapman! this sensor and high speed piston concept would be PERFECT for a footballer doing keepie uppies! place long range sensors in the floor of a base, build the footballer's leg off of it and use the floor sensors to get the angle while a sensor on the boot determines when to kick out. Angle can be adjusted using bearings and controllers which should give better variation than pistons as the angle is determined at the controller, not the actual bearing.

[@ajhflatline2011]

this is one of the coolest things you have ever made in Scap Mechanic

[@RythAnimations]

Good morning Scrap! Thanks for another great morning video ^-^

[@StenaAbelle]

I absolutely love this!! I remember making one if these irl bacj in highschool! Just a couple possible improvements; 1. Would recommend putting 8 or gates in under each ‘type’ of sensor. It just tidies up the wires, 2. For something with a two step, definitely adding 2 pistons for each tyoe if movement would wirk for this very easily, especially if you typidy uo the wires, 3. When you want to change the ‘orbits’, you want to make the opposite changes to it 90* from where you want the changes, e.g. if you want it to have a smaller up-down width, you have to make the left-right width larger. If you want the entire orbit smaller, slow the ball down, if you want it bigger, speed the ball up.

[@PaHDoMNblu_4ell]

24:42 "you died" Ps who also noticed that red circle has one excess pixel?

[@vroreo5019]

It would be cool to have a part 2 of this experimenting with the gradual angle idea you had.

[@ryanbard8555]

This could be a great anti-air rocket platform for trailmakers.. it seems like it could get on target faster than a typical servo/hinge gimble..

[@BattleKing00]

A fun game to play with the guys would be to build a wall around the platform with a gap large enough for the ball to roll off. Have the guys standing on a platform each, then have buttons with lights on the wall that light up randomly and they have to run to the wall and click the associated buttons without letting the ball fall off. Or something similar.

[@TandloseII]

If you're reading this you've might already figured this out but for those who havn't, the reason the ball could not go in the middle of the table (on the original central sensor array) is because the front of the sensor block does not have attachment points. The ball *could* go on the sides because all hitboxes used when placing blocks are squares covering the object (sort of like in Trailmakers, how the building hitbox technically is counted as a solid cube, eventho there's clearly a air gap present) and this sensor pad was roughly as large as the ball, meaning towards the edges the corner blocks of the ball's hitbox was ontop of the plastic blocks next to the sensors meaning that was concidered a valid spot to build the object, but in the middle every block below was a sensor making it an invalid spot.

[@Chronolinth]

I love how the table gets frustrated when the ball is going to fall off so it gives the ball a smack

[@DustyRed762]

You can actually make variable pistons in vanilla if you'd like, using just the two you have now and a little bit of logic. Kan knows how, so you can ask him if you want to know more. Great video as always!

[@adityabhardwaj6602]

u can triple or quadruple up the pistons so when white:3 pistons, blue:2 pistons, red:1 piston to vary distances(slant of plane)

[@Glocktopus42]

I cannot believe you didn't put multiple balls on 1 platform. Just to see lol. Good video scrap!

[@mark2446.]

24:43, 26:28 - scrapman gets jumpscared by a challenge mode ball

[@tylermatheson4376]

6:32 this is the strangest spider I’ve ever seen 😂

[@idontwannatypeaname]

the edit when scrapman was deleting and placing sensors in the holes was satisfying

[@ElyriatheWitch]

Honestly? Very satisfying!

[@user-ky6xj4ou8w]

That was really fun😂😂😂, i want more scraaapppmaannn

[@dylanwatts9344]

This would make for an amazing RNG machine. Just some walls to keep the ball inside and some pistons in the wall to add force if it gets up to/ against the wall. Oh, and keep the center sensors. Then you just need a timer to drop it into a random-ish spot.

[@sherlockholmes3317]

Omg ,Scrapman achieved superhuman speed 😮😂 That sensor hooking is insane.

[@itayvolk]

you could just put "fences" made of sensors set to half the length of the table and use those to detect the ball (if the sensors on one side see the ball the table needs to tilt away from them)

[@ScottaHemi440]

0:20 when Ch2 comes out you could probably make this thing bigger! they showed a video the other day of many objects coliding without lag! it was aweomse!

[@Ekipsogel]

When?

[@OnexLen]

you can make it so that you have more than 2 pistons, this is a good base just hook up the outer sensors to an additional piston that only pushes maybe 1-3 blocks instead of full 5 to have it a "higher push on outside and lower push on the inner side" kind of thing

[@graylinbeaudry4651]

using these in a claw game would be pretty cool or like a versus board to get the ball off the board on an opponent's side

[@Hades_Minion]

You should make a maze with this concept, but the player control the platform instead of sensors. You know, like that old wooden ball maze game with holes all over the place.

[@thebeardedatheist]

24:43 like those stupid baseball videos. Jumped in my chair lmao

[@IsaiahLund]

your videos slap at 5am (its 4:52am)

[@stefanjentoft8107]

Super fascinating video!

[@LeanneLeroy-ou7ob]

Always entertained by your content, it's awesome!

[@gamerdian1048]

It's a bot guys 💀 come on . If this is the situation now we're cooked in the future

[@mihast3273]

For future, you can use OR gates to streamline your logic For example connect one quadrant of the sensors to an OR gate, and then the gate to the logic and stuff

[@57thorns]

I love the one that was tossing the ball, it was beautiful.

[@altaccount8392]

On KZbin you can watch hour long video essays, 15min educational videos, or just straight up tutorials and we’re watching a ball balancing table. I’ve never seen a more masculine thing in my life

[@jonwilkinson7474]

5:38 it's because technically you were placing the ball on the plastic edge, the center doesn't allow for that cause you can't place blocks on sensor faces

[@jozsefbraun6555]

Next time you do something like this, I recomend creating a corner of the sensorbed and connect them into one or gate then you can duplicate it 3 times.

[@jeremygrosjean5787]

You could do the adaptive piston length in vanilla by have a couple of piston (default on/ default off) for each color of your target. The white sensor activates the 3 “pairs” of pistons, the blue sensor only 2 pairs, and the red one only one “pair”. With a small piston length it should simulate what you wanted to do.

[@djplonghead5403]

MM idea- have 3 of these and a ball rolling on each. The player stands on the platform. You use spud guns to try to knock their ball off the platform. If your ball falls off the platform you are out.

[@EmKaChuu]

12:50 - The answer would be more pistons, connecting edge sensors to more pistons

[@OB1-D2]

I think the diagonal is more stable because it has a longer distance and it goes over the dead center for longer making it not gain as much energy

[@OB1-D2]

This could be a really fun game or somthing for mm. You build a table and they have to use their spud guns to balence or disrupt it

[@Eidalzalabieh]

Second ball or multiples would add randomness and fun

[@Psycorde]

I think FANT mod has multi-connector tool, could be helpful for stuff like this

[@spikyhairboy17]

You should add spud guns around the edges connected to the sensors to help stabilise

[@GummieI]

I was totally waiting for the 2nd table when bouncing the balls, to have the ball go bounce over to the first table and mess it's circle up xD

[@Chew00012]

I love you're videos scrap! I saw this guy named WTS on KZbin, he made a car that had some kind of magnetic suspension in Trailmakers. It looked quite interesting tbh. I think you should check him out, maybe make a vid out of it where you try to recreate the car! Have a good one!

[@Trex0Pol]

9:50 It would be easier if you put an OR gate under each quadrant into which you hook the sensors and then hook up the or gate to the corresponding controlling gates. It would be much easier to read this way and fix any potential issues or changes.

[@FoxDog1080]

What scrapman doesn't realize is that the faster the table moves, the faster it will fling the ball in the direction it's already moving

[@occasionalart7597]

Man props to the editor, they've been absolutely on point lately!

[@JayJay14999]

I wonder if something like this would work in a spleef arena even if it’s just in sections, would be interesting to see how things would play out

[@Fortplayzthis]

Use bearing and controllers in the form of kind of an arm mechanism which might work to adjust the length AND to make reaction even faster

[@Geninacra]

Fo a more gradual display of the table. Just do the same but with 3+ pistons. It would be more tedeous but if you just treat each concentric circle as an adicional side of the table.

[@plaguetpk5403]

One way you could make the slope gradual is by adding more pistons, what I mean is add one piston for every ring of sensors and the closer the ring to the center, the less the corresponding piston extends. The pistons would need to be fast to counter two of them being full extention at once. It wouldn't require much difference in the wiring either, just adding the same set up for every ring. (I said not much difference, not simple).

[@Fireninja2343]

you can add another piston only for the far sensors for gradual increases and stuff

[@Thagrynor]

If you stacked more pistons and moved each only like 1 or 2, you could allow for the sensors to effect multiple sets of pistons at a time and thus the inner rings would effect fewer pistons while the outer ring would effect more of them.

[@tyreni]

A very Scrapman doing Scrap Mechanic things video.

[@azdvcbfdsdbgcvb]

you could make it into a minigame where you need to put the ball in the center or a specific direction

[@wonay]

You could have four piston instead of two for instance. And the far sensor can trigger both and the close to the center sensor trigger only one.

[@bartbogearts2617]

KAN made an adjustable piston length using constantly extending and retracting pistons, ask him to help you out to gradually angle the plate, if you want to improve it

[@blueflame_sm]

You couldn't place the ball on the center censor because the sensing side of the sensor is not a sticky face, so you can only place it on there if another block's sticky face also touches it, which the center one didn't have.

[@Dinthebanana]

Scrap man you have been my childhood every since I was 3

[@Hi._.0110]

There is a way but it requires a lot of wiring. Every zone has its own piston with its own extension length EG: RED 1 BLUE 3 WHITE 5 . This is the only way i can think of doing this given that I have played for 1000+ hours you would just have to apply everything Scrapman did. U would get a higher resolution but may lose FPS. It still would be cool if he revisits this concept later.

[@Fox563.]

Make a video about Anti air misslies against overpowered planes

[@Pockeywn]

you should put the sensors in a path on a larger platform with less tilt and see if you can make the ball follow it by tilting it towards the middle of the path instead of the middle of the platform

[@Pockeywn]

would be cool to have it doing non circular “orbits”

[@justinpatterson5291]

We definitely need a wide angle sensor, with the ability to output to 5 points (U, D, L, R, C).

[@Flare7639]

Scrap casually making balls orbit in scrap mechanic

[@lavarsch]

instantly reminded me of "Round Table" by Choe U-Ram

[@nolanfarley9195]

Should've used an angle of the edge with 4 bearings at like 12 degrees maybe and have the sensors at the end trigger all 4 bearings and the ones in the middle only trigger 1, same pattern for sensors 2 and 3. If this works out should be more gradual/accurate of a centering

[@faremir]

12:54... For gradual rising well you could have 5 pistons with length one instead of one piston of length five

[@omar062696]

SCRAPMAN THIS JUST GAVE ME THE GREATEST IDEA. WHEN THE TABLE MADE THE BALL JUMP IT REMINDED ME OF A PINBALL TABLE CAN YOU MAKE AN AUTONOMOUS PINBALL TABLE PRETTY PLZ GOD BLESS Ps. I think faster speed!!!= Ping pong lol

[@omar062696]

Ping pong from table to table

[@sagy101]

6 pistons on each corner, each circle of sensors (increasing in distance from center) should increase the one piston by one.

[@wolfking5725]

You should have the outside sensors go to a piston that extends to 5 and the inside ones go to a piston that extends 3-2

[@Treylopez1997]

Can you use this same design and change pistons settings to make the ball bounce endlessly in the center and when it drifts it'll correct it back

[@user-om2ln3fv6n]

I felt that ball hit me through the screen 😂

[@spinnirack3645]

One way to have variable output out of 1 and 0 is to have pulses of 1 and 0 like how electric ovens maintain temperature The duration of the On portion of the signal pulse varies depending on how far from the center the sensor is The off portion of the pulse would be universal

[@theleafeon8345]

You said you can’t change how far the pistons extend with logic gate. So add more pistons with different lengths and wire it so that when it’s further out it extends the long ones and when it’s closer extend the close ones