Programming the Mecanum Robot with Block Coding in PictoBlox

The Quarky Mecanum Wheel Robot is a type of robot that uses a special type of wheel to move. The wheel is made of four rollers mounted at 45-degree angles to the wheel‘s hub. Each roller has its own motor and can spin in either direction. This allows the wheel to move in any direction, making it an ideal choice for navigating around obstacles and tight spaces. The mecanum wheel robot can also turn on the spot, allowing it to make sharp turns without having to reverse direction.

The robot is programmable with PictoBlox. PictoBlox is coding education software that uses both graphical block-based coding and Python programming.

With PictoBlox, you can program the Mecanum Robot to move, grip, and perform pick & place actions!

If you haven’t installed PictoBlox, please follow the instructions:

Windows Installer (.exe)

STEP 1: Download the Pictoblox Installer (.exe) for Windows 7 and above (Release Notes).

Windows Installer 64-bit

Windows Installer 32-bit

STEP 2: Run the .exe file.

Some of the device gives the warning popup. You don’t have to worry, this software is harmless. Click on More info and then click on Run anyway.

STEP 3: Rest of the installation is straight forward, you can follow the popup and check on the option appropriate for your need.

 

Your software is now installed!

macOS Installer

STEP 1: Download the Pictoblox Installer (.dmg).

macOS Installer

STEP 2: Run the .dmg file.

Mobile App Installer

STEP 1: Open Google Play Store on your Smartphone and and search for PictoBlox or visit the link here to head over to the Google Play Store. You can even scan the QR Code below from your Smartphone to head to the PictoBlox App.

Mobile App Installer

STEP 2: Install the PictoBlox App.

Connecting Quarky with PictoBlox

Let’s begin by first connecting Quarky to PictoBlox. Select your preferred type of device i.e. either the desktop/laptop or your smartphone and follow the instructions.

Desktop

Follow the steps below for connecting Quarky to PictoBlox:

1. First, connect Quarky to your laptop using a USB cable.
2. Next, open PictoBlox on your desktop.
3. After that, select Block as your coding environment.
4. Then, click the Board button in the toolbar and select board as Quarky.
   
5. Next, select the appropriate Serial port if the Quarky is connected via USB or the Bluetooth Port if you want to connect Quarky via Bluetooth and press Connect.
   
6. Click on the Upload Firmware button. This will upload the latest firmware in Quarky.
   
   Note: If your device already has the latest firmware, then PictoBlox will show the message – Firmware is already updated. For learning more you can refer to this tutorial: https://ai.thestempedia.com/docs/quarky/quarky-toubleshooting/updating-quarky-firmaware-with-pictoblox/
7. Once the firmware is uploaded, Quarky starts the Getting Started program. This runs only for the first time. Run through it.

And voila! Quarky is now connected to PictoBlox.

Mobile

Follow the steps below for connecting Quarky to PictoBlox:

1. First, power ON Quarky.
2. Open PictoBlox on your smartphone. Go to My Space and make a new project by clicking the ‘+(plus)’ button in the bottom-right corner.
   
3. Then, tap the Board button in the top-right corner of the toolbar.
   Select board as Quarky.
   
4. Next, tap the Connect button:
   Select your device from the list.
   

And voila! Quarky is now connected to PictoBlox.

Quarky Mecanum Extension

The Quarky Mecanum extension in PictoBlox allows you to control the robot. It has blocks for specific applications. To add the Quarky Mecanum extension follow the instructions:

1. Click on the Add Extension button and add the Quarky Mecanum extension.
2. You can find the Quarky Mecanum blocks available in the project.

PictoBlox Blocks for Quarky Mecanum

The following blocks are available for the Quarky Mecanum:

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The block initializes a TM1637 4×7 segment display module by assigning two boundaries, CLK and DIO, to two digital pins of an Arduino board. The module can then be used to display numbers, characters, and symbols using the 4×7 segment display.

This block is used to move the robotic arm from its current position to a specific X, Y, and Z coordinate position over a specified period of time. This block first moves in the X axis, then the Y axis, and lastly Z axis to reach the desired point.

This block is designed to program the robotic arm to move in a circle in the specified Y plane over a period of time. The user must specify the circle’s center position along the X and Z axes, as well as the radius of the circle. The robot arm then calculates all the points it needs to travel in the XYZ coordinates and travels to them one by one.

Set the pins for the left, middle, and right IR sensors to enable line following. Note: For 3 IR Sensors, the threshold is set by the potentiometers on the sensors as they work with digital value.

Changes the speed of the sprite movement. Speed can be set as slow, normal and fast.

Changes the current costume of the sprite to the next one.

Stops all the movement and actions of the quarky.

Turns off all the LED of the quarky display.

Changes the speed of the wizbot. Speed can be set as slow, normal and fast.

Stops any sound or music playing from the script.

This block is used to draw the outline or a filled rectangle with rounded corners. It takes the following parameters as input: fill/draw, starting coordinates, width, height, the radius at corners and color. It draws a rectangle rounded at edges where the radius is input by the user.

The block returns the value of analog pins available in the connected hardware. Analog reading is of 10-bit resolution, hence the range of value is 0 to 1023. This range is mapped to the voltage of the pin (normally 0 to 5V). If the value received is 512, the voltage value will be around 2.5V.

The block allows the user to control actuators such as DC motors and servo motors from the Motor control module of the Dabble app.

This block moves the robotic arm’s end-effector to the specified X, Y, and Z position in a line in the specified time. Whenever we use this block, the robotic arm breaks the line from one position to another position in smaller lines and follow them.

This block is to assign custom leg actions and movements to our Humanoid Robot.

The block glides sprite to the specified X and Y position in the specified duration. This block has animation in its movement.

The block changes the backdrop to the next in the list of backdrops, but if the current backdrop is the last in the list, the block will loop to the first.

The block sets its sprite’s volume to the specified amount. It only affects the sprite (or the Stage) that the block is in.

It activates in a clone when it gets created.

The block checks if the computer mouse’s primary button is activated (being clicked).

The block returns the number of objects identified with the specified object class.

The block subtracts the second value from the first and reports the result.

The block can delete the item inputted from the specified list.

This block is used to analyze the image received as input from the camera, for human hand detection.

The () recognition result block reports the landmark and the image description identified in the image.

The get () of face () block reports the following attributes of the face: x position, y position, width and height.

The block returns whether the specified signal is detected in the analysis or not.

The function returns the time data of the location when data capture, sunrise, or sunset happens.

The block reports the project’s tempo. This block can be displayed as a Stage monitor. As this block holds how long drums and notes will be played, it is useful in music projects where they must sense how long an instrument will be playing.

The block sets the Pen Size to the given number. The pen draws a trail of circles. The diameter of the circle, in pixels, is equal to the pen size.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, the Quarky Mecanum Wheel Robot is a powerful and versatile robot that can be programmed using PictoBlox. With its Mecanum extension, it can be programmed to move in any direction, grip objects, and perform pick & place actions. With the help of PictoBlox, users can easily program the robot to perform their desired tasks.