Hey guys,
I'm considering creating an interface board that connects a Raspberry Pi to an iRobot Create or Roomba robot, and then mass-producing it and selling it, as well as including a free software library for it. I may also sell all-in-one kits that include a Pi, a Create, and the interface board.
I have the funds to get started with such a project, but my question is this: if such a thing existed, how many of you guys would buy it? I'm thinking the board itself would probably cost around $30.
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iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
Last edited by kyleedwardsny on Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
I voted no.
I don't have a Roomba and I'm not likely to get one.
(If I had one I would be interested in buying a board, but I don't think its likely to happen anytime soon).
I don't have a Roomba and I'm not likely to get one.
(If I had one I would be interested in buying a board, but I don't think its likely to happen anytime soon).
Doug.
Building Management Systems Engineer.
Building Management Systems Engineer.
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Re: iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
UPDATE:
Please only vote if you actually own a Roomba or a Create! I would like to know if this is something that Roomba owners would be interested in buying. Thanks!
Please only vote if you actually own a Roomba or a Create! I would like to know if this is something that Roomba owners would be interested in buying. Thanks!
Re: iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
I'm not a Roomba owner but you may be interested to note that there have been only a few Roomba related posts here over the years. And I remember one or two of those were for people who just had parts and were looking for clues how to interface them.
So I don't think you'll sell many, unless you also create a set of instructions for an accompanying robot that will work with it. (I would guess the roomba motor/gearbox/encoder assemblies are uncommon and pricey.)
So I don't think you'll sell many, unless you also create a set of instructions for an accompanying robot that will work with it. (I would guess the roomba motor/gearbox/encoder assemblies are uncommon and pricey.)
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Re: iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
Can you elaborate on what you mean by this?Ravenous wrote:So I don't think you'll sell many, unless you also create a set of instructions for an accompanying robot that will work with it. (I would guess the roomba motor/gearbox/encoder assemblies are uncommon and pricey.)
My plan was to make an adapter board that connects the Raspberry Pi directly to the Roomba's serial interface, and include a Python library that communicates with the Roomba and controls its movement. The adapter board would probably also allow the Raspberry Pi to be powered by the Roomba base.
Re: iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
Oh in that case disregard what I said. I assumed you were going to build a board that would replace the Roomba's electronics. A completely different project!
By the way the main blog on this site - a year or so ago - had a project doing something like that.
Unfortunately I tried a search and got a broken link.
If you look at http://www.raspberrypi.org/archive/ in the 2012 section the link is there, but it's dead! How annoying.
Oh well...

By the way the main blog on this site - a year or so ago - had a project doing something like that.
Unfortunately I tried a search and got a broken link.
If you look at http://www.raspberrypi.org/archive/ in the 2012 section the link is there, but it's dead! How annoying.

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Re: iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
Oh heavens no! In fact, this board would be little more than a breakout board for some 3.3v/5v buffers running between the Pi UART and the Roomba. But it would be a quick and easy way to get started without having to make your own adapter!Ravenous wrote:I assumed you were going to build a board that would replace the Roomba's electronics.
Re: iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
I've spent about half a day looking for the easiest ways for my pi to talk to a 4000 series roomba. I'd buy such a breakout board and get going with my project.
Sachin
Sachin
Re: iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
I'm a roomba owner and I would not buy a board, at least not at this price.
To connect the pi with roomba, you only need 2 wires. You probably won't be able to power a raspberry pi from roomba's SCI port, it would consume way to much.
Why would you connect a big raspi to a roomba when you can directly connect a bluetooth module, a zigbee module, a moteino or a lot of others wireless modules ?
All of them would cost much less than $30.
To connect the pi with roomba, you only need 2 wires. You probably won't be able to power a raspberry pi from roomba's SCI port, it would consume way to much.
Why would you connect a big raspi to a roomba when you can directly connect a bluetooth module, a zigbee module, a moteino or a lot of others wireless modules ?
All of them would cost much less than $30.
Re: iRobot Create/Roomba Interface Board
Hi !!
I think this is the link "Ravenous" said
http://www.raspberrypi.org/repurposing-a-roomba/
There is a hacking of a Roomba robot ...
with some video and links to code in Python ...
It would be a good base to add audio capabilities recognizer
and connectivity wifi ..
To connect to a knowledge database.
like AMAZON "echo" see http://goo.gl/7Cp2iD
but on a mobile platform ...
It would be a good project for presentation at https://www.kickstarter.com/
I think this is the link "Ravenous" said
http://www.raspberrypi.org/repurposing-a-roomba/
There is a hacking of a Roomba robot ...
with some video and links to code in Python ...
It would be a good base to add audio capabilities recognizer
and connectivity wifi ..
To connect to a knowledge database.
like AMAZON "echo" see http://goo.gl/7Cp2iD
but on a mobile platform ...
It would be a good project for presentation at https://www.kickstarter.com/
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