How to Make an Auto-Mecanum Vehicle

What a cool vehicle! It’s FreaksMeca that is an upgraded version of the Auto-Mecanum Vehicle. The FreaksMeca has yet to be completed, so now I can only show the prototype(Auto-Mecanum Vehicle). If you want to know about it, you can continue to pay attention to us(official website or facebook: @ElecFreaksTech).

The Auto-Mecanum vehicle is equipped with four Mecanum wheels and it can automatically move to any directions, totally independent of human control, whether by a console or a mobile App(BLECenter). The Mecanum wheel is that can move a vehicle in any directions. You can Google it if you want to understand how it works and get the whole picture. I used a FreaksBot control board to make the vehicle, because the control board was based on Arduino Mega2560 which was easy to drive encoder motors and to extend sensors including camera sensors, ultrasonic displacement sensors etc. You can also use the sensors to make a roving vehicle or automatic barrier vehicle, etc. But now I’ll only show you how to make a vehicle that can move automatically in any directions.

Well, let’s begin!

1. Chassis made of wood board
2. Left Mecanum wheel x2
3. Right Mecanum wheel x2
4. Shaft Connector x4
5. Pliers
6. Encoder motor wire x 4
7. FreaksBot x1
8. RC battery x1
9. Screwdrivers
10. Encoder motor x4
11. motor supporter x4
12. Set screws

The first thing to do is to cut a piece of wood board. We can use a laser cutter to do the job. Then we make holes on this board. Next we fix 4 motor supporters on the chassis. It’s no pickle for any of us.

No need to explain this step. You just have to make sure they’re installed properly and firmly.

Note: the Mecanum wheel must be installed in accordance with the direction of the picture.

Connect all connectors and the vehicle is now completely installed. As the FreaksBot board integrates motor driver IC, we do not have to go through a complex wiring.

Assume that your computer has installed Arduino IDE. Click here to download the full codes, decompress and copy the codes to the libraries folder in the Arduino IDE installation directory. Now we’re all set. We just need to follow below steps to upload codes to FreaksBot.

1. Connect FreaksBot to computer
2. Open Arduino IDE
3. Choose Examples file ‘FreaksMeca’
4. Set up board:”Arduino/Genuino Mega or Mega 2560”
5. Set up Process:”Atmega2560 (Mega 2560)”
6. Choose the right port
7. Click the upload button till the upload is completed.

At this point, the Auto-Mecanum vehicle is completed. Turn it on to feel the charm of your masterpiece! You can also use the APP(BLECenter) to control the Auto-Mecanum vehicle.

The upgraded version is coming soon! We will update at the first time.