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 holds its sprite’s current costume number.

The block holds the current backdrop number.

The block reports all the objects that are in contact with the sprite. 

The block reports the master or the current RFID tag ID.

The block reports the request-response code received.

The Color Detector module of the Camera Module processes the live video stream and detects colors as per the selected settings. This block gives the value of the selected color component for the selected cell.

The Oscilloscope module allows you to visualize the input and output signals of your hardware device on your smartphone. This block for setting the baud rate by selecting one from the drop-down for the Bluetooth module that you have connected to the boards.

The block holds its sprite’s size. This block can be displayed as a Stage monitor.

The block set the stage view to the defined coordinates with respect to the defined world coordinates. This is very helpful in creating games.

The block reports the body or error value from the HTTP request.

The Data Logger of the IoT module is used to monitor the data of sensors while they are being logged and can finally save the data in form of CSV file. This block is used for sending the data that is to be logged in the file. 

The block changes the stage view by the defined coordinate values with respect to the defined world coordinates. 

The block reports the value of the JSON object from the body.

This block refreshes the data sent to the hardware device from Dabble app.

The block reports the x coordinate value of the stage view.

The block reports the object count of the JSON object from the body.

The Camera module allows you to use your mobile camera for different activities like recording videos, capturing images, color detection, and face detection. This block is used for rotating your Smartphone’s camera in the module. 

The block reports the y coordinate value of the stage view.

The Data Logger of the IoT module is used to monitor the data of sensors while they are being logged and can finally save the data in form of CSV file. This block is used to configure the initial parameters of the data logger file. 

The block sets the velocity unit for the physics engine to the specified unit system.

The Oscilloscope module allows you to visualize the input and output signals of your hardware device on your smartphone. This block sends the data to the oscilloscope channel.  

The block sets the force unit for the physics engine to the specified unit system.

The Notification module of the IoT module triggers a notification in your Smartphone based on events occurring on your hardware. This block creates notifications that need to be sent.

The block sets the mass unit for the physics engine to the specified unit system.

The Oscilloscope module allows you to visualize the input and output signals of your hardware device on your smartphone. This block for setting the baud rate by selecting one from the drop-down for the Bluetooth module that you have connected to evive. 

The block reset the unit system of the physics engine to default.

The Camera module of Dabble app allows you to use your mobile camera for different activities like recording videos, capturing images, and color detection. This block is used to change the flash settings, camera quality, and zoom settings of your Smartphone’s camera.

The block reports the current unit system used for the specified property.

The Color Detector module of Camera Module process live video stream and detects colors as per the selected settings. This block is used for setting grid size, color calculation mode and color mode settings. The block consists of three drop downs.

The block converts the specified value of the distance from the input unit system to the target unit system.

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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.