Author Topic: Roomba  (Read 3323 times)

Offline sandbox

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« on: December 09, 2006, 01:28:53 AM »
Roomba is an intelligent and effective vacuuming robot.
http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=122


Hacking Roomba
http://hackingroomba.com/


Roomba Tilt Control with MacBook & Perl

This project shows you how to use the built-in tilt sensors of the MacBook to control a Roomba.
http://hackingroomba.com/projects/roomba-t...h-macbook-perl/

In the future I can envision Wet & Dry robots doing your windows, dishes, laundry, lawn, trash, all from the convenience of your MacBook. From a Bluetooth headset and iListen you could talk to your Mac-MacBook and call up a variety of robots to do their chores.

ars
« Last Edit: December 09, 2006, 01:30:27 AM by sandbox »

Offline Gregg

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« Reply #1 on: December 09, 2006, 10:23:52 AM »
Just how smart? Our vacuum has, as most newer ones do, a setting to activate the roll-brush for carpet, and one to shut it down for tile or wood floors. Can Roomba do that? :dare:
Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.

Offline kimmer

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« Reply #2 on: December 09, 2006, 11:28:41 AM »
QUOTE(Gregg @ Dec 9 2006, 08:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Just how smart? Our vacuum has, as most newer ones do, a setting to activate the roll-brush for carpet, and one to shut it down for tile or wood floors. Can Roomba do that? :dare:

Boy, wish my new vacuum did that.  : dry.gif

Offline sandbox

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« Reply #3 on: December 09, 2006, 06:42:42 PM »
Beyond the internet, artsie tartsie applications, word processing or a funnel for spam, computing will have a practical use for the masses. Today I use iListen to manipulate internal applications and iTunes connected to a stereo, why can’t someday in the near future, expect that it can get me a beer? wink.gif If I place my trash cans on a motorized platform why can it deliver them to the curb? Using the same design as the Roomba, why couldn’t I mow the lawn?

I’ve been thinking about using a soil moisture gage in my garden, there really isn’t any reason why the garden can’t water itself. Water conservation will require innovative ideas, watering on a timer served its’ purpose, but it’s hardly efficient.

Offline krissel

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Offline sandbox

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« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2006, 03:30:49 AM »
Thanks Kris, the Robomower is cool! wink.gif

I did install a drip system into my xeroscaped area and i have a rain gage as well, but it doesn't really tell the whole story. You really need a gage that can measure the moisture in the ground from 4 to 8 inches. I thought if it could have a bluetooth component that could send a signal to the control that I could water more accurately. Tropical plants and trees require a bit more attention to water because sand doesn't hold moisture very well. Hot sun and constant winds make the rain gage almost useless.

L8r

Offline krissel

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« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2006, 03:47:43 AM »
Considering my soil is frozen solid right now, I can't really sympathize.

brrr1.gif   wink.gif


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Offline sandbox

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« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2006, 03:56:48 AM »

Offline gunug

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« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2006, 04:40:27 AM »
Sandbox - Thanks for the neat frost-art page.  My dad, who was a meteorolgist; had a nice scrapbook of black and white frost patterns that people in places like "Frostbite Falls, Minnesota" sent him.  These would make excellent desktop pictures!

As for the Roomba, I'm sure that someday all of that will be second nature to us all (will it have an attachment that climbs up and vacuums the drapes?) but I can't really get by the commercial (Pepsi?) in which the man has to tell his date: "Your vacuum cleaner ate my pants!" Besides I've always treated vacuuming as a proactive statement of membership in society: You dig in with the huge vacuum-cleaner and do battle with the dust of entropy!  Why would I want a robot to have all of the fun!
"If there really is no beer in heaven then maybe at least the
computers will work all of the time!"

Offline Gregg

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« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2006, 02:53:47 PM »
Maybe I'd trust Roomba, but Robomower? I don't think so. eek2.gif
Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.

Offline Xairbusdriver

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« Reply #10 on: December 12, 2006, 06:20:05 PM »
We have several rugs/runners with 3 to 4 inch fringe on them. There's no way Roomba can know which way to run over those edges in the correct direction and speed to avoid 'eating' that fringe. oops.gif Even managing to climb onto these quite thick rugs, from the hardwood floor surrounding them, would be troublesome, IMHO. sos.gif  whew.gif
« Last Edit: December 12, 2006, 06:23:10 PM by Xairbusdriver »
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline jcarter

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« Reply #11 on: December 12, 2006, 07:05:16 PM »
Great picture!  Ice Flowers!
If we got a Roomba, all our animals and grandkids would attack it, so thats out of the question around here anyway.
Jane

Offline Gregg

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« Reply #12 on: December 13, 2006, 07:47:52 AM »
Jim, you'd have to actually bend over and pick up the throw rugs. I do that anyway, using a "push" vacuum.
Ya gotta applaud those bunnies for sacrificing their hearing just so some guy in Cupertino can have better TV reception.