LAFVIN 4WD Mecanum Robot Car Kit Smart DIY Project Compatible with Arduino IDE

I love this thing. I've been wanting to build a Mecanum bot for a while and this definitely scratched my itch. You need to go to LAFVIN's website to get the instructions. Be mindful of where the holes are, I did have to attach the battery cradle 4 times, but after that it was smooth sailing. If you've got big fingers, a set of tweezers from an electronics repair kit will help with some of the smaller nuts. There are 4 particularly tiny ones on the sonar sensor. Out of the box code works fine. I let it roam around my friend's lab while we worked and we were stoked watching it do laps around the machines and pallets. I did some tweaking to add strafing into the object avoidance routine to make use of the mecanum wheels (Easily the coolest thing about this bot). The batteries haven't needed to be recharged It eventually did try driving under a pallet and it snapped the mount holding the Sonar, but I 3D printed a replacement. (Uploading to Printables) I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as the first step in an Arduino Journey, but it's a great second step. Definitely a nice jumping off point for the novice roboticist. YMMV.

I recently worked on the LAFVIN 4WD Mecanum Robot Car Kit and overall, it’s an exciting and worthwhile project. The kit is compatible with Arduino IDE, and like any hands-on build, it offers plenty of opportunities to think critically and solve problems. That’s exactly the kind of challenge I enjoy when doing DIY robotics. However, there are two big drawbacks. First, the kit did not include all the screws needed to assemble the robot. Missing hardware doesn’t just create challenges, it creates unnecessary struggles. A DIY project should test your creativity and problem-solving skills, not force you to track down basic parts that should have been in the box. Second, the kit uses a less common battery type: 18650 rechargeable batteries. These are not the typical AA or AAA batteries most people keep on hand, so you’ll need to purchase them separately, often as a bundle like a 2 Pack 18650 Rechargeable Battery 9900mAh with a universal single-slot charger. It’s an extra step and expense that new users should be aware of before starting. With all the right parts and the proper batteries, this kit has the potential to be a fun and educational experience, but the missing screws and uncommon battery requirement take away from what could otherwise be a smooth project.

Great kit and best price!

The batteries are not included. They are expensive and rare. 3.7 volts 2.75 inches long. You will also need a charger to charge them, running you around 20 plus dollars. If that's not an issue the product itself would be a 5 for me. The kit is really nice, good quality, and fun to build with your kids.

I purchased it for my students to use at a science faor. I ended up going on a frantic hunt the day of to find 3.7v 18650 batteries which apparently are not generally available in stores. All I'm saying is they could have made that clear in the description.