iRobot Create: Roomba hacking for the everyman

As much fun as vacuums can be, it looks like iRobot has sensed the true spirit behind its Roomba fanbase: hacking. Now they've gone ahead and built the iRobot Create kit to give hackers a better platform to work with. According to the FCC docs which have revealed this little number, the main differences are a lack of vacuum -- no more clean floors for you -- and a nifty "cargo bay connector" which can support a Command Module which bristles with ports and allows user-added motors, sensors and the like. Otherwise, most functions are quite similar to that of the third generation Roomba, with support for Virtual Walls, the Homebase (which it can hone in on via IR) and the Remote Control. As for software support, iRobot provides a few tips in the manual, like how to make the bot sing, along with some demo programs to get you started, but otherwise you're on your own -- though we're sure you won't have a hard time stumbling across existing Roomba hacker clubs online. Naturally, since iRobot hasn't even announced this kit yet, we're not sure about price and availability, and it would've been nice if they'd spruced up the bot's functionality just a wee bit, but we suppose giving hackers the Command Module and letting them run free might be the best tactic in the end. Make sure you keep reading for some more pics and shots from the manual.

This is where the magic happens.




Looks perfect for that hamster swimming pool we've been planning.


If it was pretty, it wouldn't be hacking, right?

[Ben @ Nov 29th 2006 5:18PM]

I, for one, welcome our non-vacuuming vacuum robot overlords.

[GJP303 @ Nov 29th 2006 6:02PM]

Hey, that's what i was going to say. he he funny comment though.

[Matt @ Nov 29th 2006 7:04PM]

no it wasnt

[Elliott @ Nov 29th 2006 6:54PM]

oooh, I can almost smell the voice recognizing mobile automatic coffee machine...now if only it had opposing thumbs...

[Juan @ Nov 29th 2006 7:47PM]

That robot definitely doesn't suck.

[Kenno @ Nov 29th 2006 8:25PM]

Great now my Chumby can follow me around!

[Brendan @ Nov 29th 2006 9:10PM]

Mechanical Horshoe Crab so coot =^^=

[Tod E. Kurt @ Nov 30th 2006 12:10AM]

This is great, I can't wait for it to come out.
One of the most difficult issues in making the Roomba a general robotics platform is mounting things onto it. Just having those 6-32 mounting holes will help tremendously.

Since this won't be out for several months, if you'd like to get started on hacking Roombas right now, check out my book "Hacking Roomba". You can see some example projects at its website, http://HackingRoomba.com/

One of the projects just completed, Cylon Roomba:
http://hackingroomba.com/2006/11/29/cylon-roomba-they-do-exist/

[Roomba Review @ Nov 30th 2006 2:42AM]

We have a large community of people working on hacking the Roomba.

Feel free to check out our Roomba Hacking Forum to read about the latest hacking developments.

http://www.roombareview.com/chat/viewforum.php?f=4

[peej @ Nov 30th 2006 3:20AM]

Man the puns are top notch in here!

Seriously, it's cool as hell that iRobot would release something like this. Seems like it should make perfect sense yet strangely companies never do shit like this. It would be cool if more tech companies would offer up a stripped down version of their hardware for hackers to run wild with. Hell, people might just come up with good ideas that could be reintegrated into the original.

[Kevin Gabbert @ Jan 2nd 2007 1:00AM]

oh my. I will have to get one of those..

for those of you that want to use C# or VB.Net with Roomba, I've developed a framework that you can use called the C# RoombaSCI Framework.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/roomba-term/

Its all open source and comes with a C# testing program that enables you to watch communication to & from your Roomba, & test drive Roomba around. Now that iRobot will be providing a cable, its gonna be sweet.

until it comes out though, you can either buy an RS232, USB or wireless interface at http://www.roombadevtools.com/

you can also D/L free versions of Visual Studio here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/

Kevin

[dave @ Jan 24th 2007 6:48PM]

Oh good, another opportunity for someone to post the inevitable "overlords" comment. Every time I see that I wish the internet would explode and burn. THE WHOLE GODDAMN INTERNET.