Comments for Hacking Roomba

Comment on Code Download by D' Artanian

D' Artanian — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:57:31 +0000

Hi,

is this site still updated? …I just bought a 555 model and its been unmodified for almost a week….

How/Where do I start?

Many thanks

Comment on Projects Repository by Petr Baudis

Petr Baudis — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 00:39:20 +0000

Hi! I’m sorry for the double posting; there is another question I have, how to power the router? It is supposed to take in 5V at up to 2A, is it safe to draw this from the Roomba battery (14.5V) using a DCDC voltage converter? AIUI, that would be putting 0.7A through the two miniDIM pins, not sure if that’s safe, and how well the battery will take it either. If one would use an extra battery to power the computer, what is the best choice?

Comment on Projects Repository by Enric

Enric — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 15:04:01 +0000

Hi, I am a 23 years old guy from Barcelona. I have finished this year my electronics engineering and I have been working in the robotics department the whole year. My last task before leaving is prepare some exercices for the next years students using a Roomba.
I would like to know what exactly the serial port sends to the roomba, just to try to do the same with a PIC or an FPGA, to be able to put a code into the roomba and not control it with the PC.
Another great thing it is if there is someone using visual c++ instead of Java because we don’t do anything with Java.

Thanks a lot!

Comment on Projects Repository by Dan Wolfson

Dan Wolfson — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:17:53 +0000

I am brand new to this forum and to Roomba hacking so please forgive my ignorance. I have an older Roomba model 4275 that I want to use for a project for mobility-impaired elderly people. I want to adapt the return-to-charging-base system to work on a small electric cart. The user would press a button on the base station and the cart would drive itself over to the base station. Does anyone have experience doing this or know where to point me? Thanks!

Comment on Microcontroller Code by sfang125

sfang125 — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:30:42 +0000

I have a Arduino (Deumilanove) as well that doesn’t respond to the bump-turn program… it just goes straight until I pick up the roomba… I have a gray and black one they sent me on a warranty claim that looks much like the roomba sage. I’m very new at this, and cannot figure it out. CAn someone help me get into the right direction, please?

sfang125@live.com

Comment on Build A Roomba Bluetooth Adapter by iRobot Roomba 560 « dry ice cream

iRobot Roomba 560 « dry ice cream — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:57:42 +0000

[...] podmienić software i dostosować algorytm sprzątania na potrzeby własnego domu. Inny pomysł, to rozbudowanie robota o adapter bluetooth –przyda się do sterowania robotem przez telefon [...]

Comment on Updates / Errata by todbot

todbot — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 05:24:50 +0000

Hi RBB,
I believe that’s correct about needing an OSMO//hacker. It’s been a while since I played with older Roombas though. And iRobot never documented them very well. All the info I had I put in the book.

I don’t know where to get them nowadays though. Your best bet might be to ask on the RobotReview.com forums, since there’s lots of Roomba people on there and someone might have an old OSMO//hacker they could sell you for cheap.

Comment on Updates / Errata by RBB

RBB — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:12:46 +0000

Hello, I’d like to start exploring all the possibilities a Roomba capable of ROI can afford as found in your book. =)

I want to pick up my first Roomba on eBay, but if I get an older 3rd generation Roomba (Pre-2.1) I’d need to update the firmware with an OSMO//hacker to have access to the ROI, correct?

Is the OSMO//hacker still available from iRobot or elsewhere for older 3rd generation Roombas (ie – Roomba Red or Discovery)?

I am unable to find any additional information on where to obtain an OSMO//hacker on-line. I apologize if this answer is found elsewhere.

Thank you!

Comment on Projects Repository by todbot

todbot — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 22:39:01 +0000

Hi Cordell, Yes, it's unfortunate that Linksys discontinued the WRTSL54GS. But fortunately, Asus has been producing an even better router called the Asus WL-500gU, which I think is basically the same as the WL-500GP, but is fully functional. MightyOhm has written up a great set of articles on how to get the Asus WL-500gU working with a custom OpenWrt Linux distro and with serial drivers for things like Arduino and Roomba. He was building a WiFi Radio, but all the techniques he uses work great for adding a WRT-based Linux box to your Roomba.

Comment on Projects Repository by Cordell

Cordell — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 21:20:10 +0000

Hey there, great book, I picked it up about a year ago with this big project in mind. I wanted to connect a webcam and USB missile launcher to a wireless router and make an internet connected patrolling robot to shoot my cat when I’m in the office. However, I never even got started because of the limited choices in wireless routers out there with USB ports.

i cannot find the one from the book the WRTSL54GS, after a year searching on ebay. So I tried buying an Asus WL-500gP but the wireless firmware doesn’t work once you install linux, there are tons of posts on this. You can replace the wireless board but I didn’t want that hassle.

Do you know of anyone that has successfully hooked up Wireless Roombacam with a modern router? and if so I would love to know what version or model.

Thanks, great book I can’t wait to get started.