Dual Layer 4WD Robot Chassis Kit with Omni Wheels

This kit comes with two 5mm thick acrylic sheets, four high torque encoder gear motors, and mecanum wheels. The chassis has enough room to add sensors like LiDAR or a camera for computer vision. You can also add a computer such as a Raspberry Pi or Nvidia Jetson, or an Arduino MCU and batteries.

Mecanum wheels are great for increasing a robot’s maneuverability. These wheels have rollers that can move independently at a 45º angle. This allows the robot to move forward, backward, sideways, diagonally, or spin in place. However, please don’t confuse mecanum wheels with omnidirectional wheels. While they are different, the end result is almost the same. Depending on which wheels rotate and in which direction, the robot will change its heading or spin in place.

The motors come with encoders attached. With encoders, you can add an IMU sensor and create a map of the room. This makes it easier to turn this chassis into an autonomous robot that can navigate smoothly in an apartment, building, or factory floor.

Mecanum wheels do have some drawbacks compared to the “normal” wheels we use for cars or shopping carts. Mecanum wheels are notorious for their difficulty in maneuvering on an inclined surface. Additionally, these wheels have a tendency to lose grip easily.