Self-balancing robot having a shaft-mounted head

A robot comprising:

• a base supported on wheels and including a retractable stabilizer that can retract into the base, where the robot can stably rest on the wheels and the stabilizer when the stabilizer is extended;
• a control system configured to maintain balance of the robot on the wheels;
• and
• a head joined to the base by a shaft extending therebetween, the head including a camera.

A method comprising:

• transitioning a robot from a non-balancing state to a balancing state,
• the robot including a base having two wheels and a retractable stabilizer, the two wheels defining a common axis of rotation;
• the non-balancing state characterized by the base being supported on the two wheels and the stabilizer,
• the balancing state characterized by the base being supported on only the two wheels, and
• wherein transitioning the robot from the non-balancing state to the balancing state includes using the stabilizer to rotate the base around the axis of rotation.

A method comprising:

• transitioning a robot from a balancing state to a non-balancing state,
• the robot including a base having two wheels and a retractable stabilizer, the two wheels defining a common axis of rotation;
• the non-balancing state characterized by the base being supported on the two wheels and the stabilizer,
• the balancing state characterized by the base being supported on only the two wheels, and
• wherein transitioning the robot from the balancing state to the non-balancing state includes measuring a wind strength and extending the stabilizer.