Irobot Roomba 980
© 2023 Tech Times LLC. All rights reserved.
Hacklet 87 – Roomba Projects
First introduced in 2002, The iRobot Roomba was conceived as a robotic vacuum cleaner. Just about every hacker, maker, and engineer out there immediately wanted one. The Roomba proved to be more than just a vacuum though; it was the perfect base for any household robotics project. Before long Roombas were being hacked to do way more than sweep your floor. IRobot recognized this, and added a hacker friendly serial port to later model Roombas. They even released a vacuumless version called the iRobot Create. Thousands of projects have literally ridden on the wheels of the Roomba. This week's Hacklet is all about Roomba projects.
We start with [fuzzie360] and Poor Man's Raspberry Pi Turtlebot. [Fuzzie360] has their Roomba running Robot Operating System (ROS). ROS actually is running on an on-board Raspberry Pi. While Willow Garage may be out of business, ROS lives on as an open source project run by Unbounded Robotics. Installing it can be a chore though. While [Fuzzie360] hasn't given a full tutorial, they have offered to give advice if and when you get stuck.
A Raspberry Pi would be overkill for the simple suite of sensors built into the Roomba, but it's perfect for [fuzzie3680's] modified setup with a Microsoft Kinect. [Fuzzie360's] goal is to have a robot that can vacuum the hostile territory of a university apartment.
Next up is [Sircut] who upgraded his Roomba's power cell. Early Roombas were designed to use Nickle Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries. The individual cells are built into a proprietary iRobot battery pack. NiMH can't hold a candle to Lithium Ion batteries though. Lithium Ion cells are very common these days in devices like cell phones and laptops. In fact, [Sircut] used 18650 sized laptop cells for this upgrade. [Sircut] also added the essential LiIon battery protection circuit to make sure those cells stay happy. A voltmeter provides a visual reference that the batteries aren't becoming overcharged. An upgrade like this will likely double the Roomba's runtime, but it does come at a cost. Roomba's original charge dock can no longer be used as the on-board charge circuitry isn't designed for LiIon battery charge algorithms.
Next is [Marcel Varallo] with Robot Wars for the Commuter. How does the IT department blow off steam? Fighting robots of course! Unfortunately, [Marcel's] coworkers aren't all programming mavens. Hopefully some programming is in the cards for them down the road. For now though, [Marcel] has created a robot fighting league using nearly stock Roomba robots. Each bot gets a set of 3 balloons and 3 pins. A balloon represents a life. Once your lives are all popped, you're dead! [Marcel] also created an upgrade system where winning 'bots can move on to stronger weapons like flamethrowers. During his research, [Marcel] found out that the brushes in his Roomba are powerful enough to sweep dust and debris up without the vacuum enabled. So he's disabled the vacuums for longer cleaning battle times.
Finally we have [Fredrik Markström] and ESP8266 controlled Roomba. [Fredrick] is hacking an ESP8266 module to be the main computer of this little Robot. Of course, a '8266 means it will be carrying WiFi, so this robot needs to have a web interface. [Fredrik's] first problem was powering the ESP8266. The Roomba's battery runs around 15 volts, which is definitely not friendly to the 3.3 volt ESP8266. A switching DC to DC converter was in order, and [Fredrik] found the perfect candidate on eBay. The '8266 will control the Roomba through the serial interface included on all the current models. [Fredrik] has big plans for this 'bot, including navigation and advanced vacuuming algorithms.
If you want to see more Roomba projects, check out our new Roomba project list! If I missed your project, don't be shy, just drop me a message on Hackaday.Io. That's it for this week's Hacklet. As always, see you next week. Same hack time, same hack channel, bringing you the best of Hackaday.Io!
Robot Vacuum Price Tracker: When To Buy A IRobot Roomba Robot Vacuum
iRobot via AmazonRobot vacuums can help keep your floors clean no matter where you are. These smart vacuums can be remotely controlled to suck up pet hair, dirt, dust and debris. Some of the best robot vacuums are outfitted with AI that can recommend cleaning schedules and map out your space for the most thorough clean. However, the top robot vacuums aren't cheap, so if you're on a budget, it's better to wait until you can find one on sale. To help, we've compiled this robot vacuum price tracker so that you can strike when the deals are hot and score the best price.
The experts at CBS Essentials analyzed historical pricing data on the top-selling robot vacuum models using CamelCamelCamel to uncover key data patterns and help you find the best time to buy. Robot vacuum prices tend to fluctuate across brands and models, but we do see discounts during certain key times such as Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and peak cleaning seasons such as spring. We've included detailed analysis below on the top-selling robot vacuum models.
Keep reading to discover the best time to buy a new robot vacuum.
When to buy the iRobot Roomba j7+ AmazonThe iRobot Roomba j7+ is the most popular robot vacuum among CBS Essentials readers. The vacuum features a powerful three-stage cleaning system with iRobot's most powerful suction. The home cleaning device uses an edge-sweeping brush to get into corners. The Roomba j7+ features dual multi-surface rubber brushes that flex to adjust to different floor types. Best of all, they don't get tangled with pet hair. (It's the best robot vacuum for pet parents.)
When it's done cleaning, the device automatically empties itself into its included clean base for easy dirt disposal with enclosed bags. Just empty the cleaning station once every 60 days. This smart vacuum also includes iRobot's P.O.O.P., or "Pet Owner Official Promise," guarantee. Your Roomba j7+ is guaranteed to avoid pet waste, or iRobot will replace your vacuum for free.
The vacuum is currently on sale for $599, a solid $200 off of the list price -- and we do regularly see this robot vacuum selling for $799. It's only been on sale for less than $599 once, briefly, in December of last year.
iRobot Roomba j7+ robot vacuum with cleaning station, $599 (reduced from $799)
When to buy the iRobot Roomba 694 robot vacuum AmazonThe Roomba 694 robot vacuum is Wi-Fi-enabled, so you can control the vac with your smartphone (via the iRobot Home app). The Roomba 694 has a 90-minute run time before it automatically docks and recharges.
On Amazon, one reviewer praised the iRobot device's ability to keep a pet-friendly household clean. "We have two dogs, one that sheds moderately," the customer wrote. "I purchased in hopes that it at least would help between regular vacuuming. I vacuumed first with my Dyson then set it free. When it was done with the job, I didn't expect much in the dust trap... I was wrong! It was full! Super impressed."
The iRobot Roomba 694 is currently on sale for $179, which is about as low as the price of this robot vacuum goes. We recommend buying this iRobot Roomba now.
iRobot Roomba 694 robot vacuum, $179 (reduced from $274)
When to buy the Shark AV2501AE robot vacuum AmazonThis 4.5-star-rated Shark AV2501AE robot vacuum can clean your entire home in a precise matrix grid. Its self-emptying base holds up to 30-days worth of dirt and debris. It also features a self-cleaning brush roll and XL HEPA filtration system, making it a great option for picking up pet hair and dander.
We've seen this robot vacuum sold at a price much higher than $524, but we've also seen it priced as low as $350. We don't know if it will drop to that price again, but if you can wait to buy this model, you might be able to get a better price during Amazon Prime Day.
Shark AV2501AE robot vacuum with self-emptying base, $524 (reduced from $650)
Related content from CBS EssentialsBest Fourth of July deals on patio furniture and accessories
Fourth of July deal alert: Amazon has a massive sale on Dewalt tools
Sam's Club Fourth of July deal: Get one year of discounted gas, groceries and more for $25
Best Fourth of July mattress deals to shop today
The best Fourth of July sales with the best deals: Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, Samsung, Best Buy, Sam's Club, more
More
