Topological design methods for mecanum wheel configurations of an omnidirectional mobile robot

Yunwang Li, Sumei Dai, Lala Zhao, Xucong Yan, Yong Shi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

A simple and efficient bottom-roller axle intersections approach for judging the omnidirectional mobility of the Mecanum wheel configuration is proposed and proved theoretically. Based on this approach, a sub-configuration judgment method is derived. Using these methods, on the basis of analyzing the possible configurations of three and four Mecanum wheels and existing Mecanum wheel configurations of robots in practical applications, the law determining wheel configuration is elucidated. Then, the topological design methods of the Mecanum wheel configurations are summarized and refined, including the basic configuration array method, multiple wheels replacement method, and combination method. The first two methods can be used to create suitable multiple-Mecanum-wheel configurations for a single mobile robot based on the basic Mecanum wheel configuration. Multiple single robots can be arranged by combination methods including end-to-end connection, side-by-side connection, symmetrical rectangular connection, and distributed combination, and then, the abundant combination configurations of robots can be obtained. Examples of Mecanum wheel configurations design based on a symmetrical four-Mecanum-wheel configuration and three centripetal configurations using these topological design methods are presented. This work can provide methods and a reference for Mecanum wheel configurations design.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1268
JournalSymmetry
Volume11
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2019

Keywords

  • Mecanum wheeled robot
  • Omnidirectional motion
  • Symmetrical configuration
  • Topological design method
  • Wheel configuration

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