Another Fun Gadget

[davekill]

Got a iRobot "Roomba" 530 vacuum cleaner for christmas and it is the epitome of sleek geek.
It's so cool because it works as advertised then auto parks at the charging station for the next time it's scheduled to vacuum - even while your out.
I have to admit that it is fun to watch it run around the house and iRobot encourages you to hack it any way you want.
http://www.irobot.com/filelibrary/Roomba_videos/530video.html

I'm getting a "Scooba" next.
I saw them on Amazon and at Target stores, but eBay has the best deals on these

[KingIsaacLinksr]

It really works as advertised?  Sweeeeeet.  But what is a Scooba?  I might get this little gadget if I get something a tad bigger than a typical apartment.  Who knows.

King

[davekill]

The Scooba mops hard floors, it puts down clean water and soap and sucks it up into a holding tank.
http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=125

Roomba has been out for a few years now so the 500 series is the third generation.
The more you watch it work, the more of a personality it seems to have.

[davekill]

Not just a cute vacuum cleaner - the Roomba is a low-cost platform to experience the fun of programming a robot without the problems associated with building one.

The maker iRobot, has created the Roomba Open Interface (ROI) using a 7 pin Mini DIN connector so it's easy to gain complete sensor readout, actuator control and apply reversible hacks or try someone else's without breaking your robot.

A good start is "Hacking Roomba" by Tod E. Kurt
Most projects require a PC with USB and Java JDK 1.5
If your soldering skills are a little rusty, RoombaDevTools.com provides fully assembled Roomba interfaces.
Make it sing, dance, draw huge artwork on the ground or create a complete dashboard/remote control PC application called RoombView.
But why stop there?
Make Roomba a true Internet device with a fully programable replacement brain using a larger microcontroller board that can run Linux and use a webcam, microphone, or any other sensor.
Woof!

[wraith1701]

Be careful with your hacking, davekill... :( ;)

[Rico]

Oh man that's hilarious!

[moyer777]

That was great.  I was ready for an episode that really sucks.  :)

[davekill]

lol
the new iBorg - Bwaa haa ha!

Buzz: [about Sid] I don't believe that man's ever been to medical school!

[Bryancd]

That was frackin' awesome!!!!

[KingIsaacLinksr]

Too funny lol

King

[Jen]

That must be what The Enterprise D employed to keep their carpets so nice. I have a feeling they are crazy expensive...otherwise I'd buy the Roomba vacuum cleaner and the scuba mop.
If you visit there actual web site they have several cool products. I'm not sure about the "virtual' robot. That does look like a toy...but something I'd probably get a friend to reprogram into the ultimate pest control system. I'd turn it loose in the garage and have it patrol for rodents.

The Youtube video was great BTW!

[Jen]

Huh... evidently they do have a couple of models that aren't too expensive. There are a few that are pushing 400 bucks though...

[davekill]

Well what can I say? Sci-fi and Robots are cool...
and I couldn't resist a rare eBay deal on the Cadillac of robot vacuums - a first generation Swedish made "Electrolux Trilobite"!

The roomba does a great job vacuuming around the house with about $30 of on-board navigation and processing power.

What does a $1,700 robo-vac get you?
The EL520A Trilobite uses more like $300 of optical / audio sensors, a lot more processing power and a cool Jeordie Laforge  "visor"  to see and navigate around obstacles, people and pets. It maps out the room and does the job with 90 watts of power in less than half the time it takes the 3rd generation Roomba 500 series.

http://trilobite.electrolux.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolux_Trilobite

and I got this "low millage" store demo for literally pennies on the dollar.

[moyer777]

Well what can I say? Sci-fi and Robots are cool...
and I couldn't resist a rare eBay deal on the Cadillac of robot vacuums - a first generation Swedish made "Electrolux Trilobite"!

The roomba does a great job vacuuming around the house with about $30 of on-board navigation and processing power.

What does a $1,700 robo-vac get you?
The EL520A Trilobite uses more like $300 of optical / audio sensors, a lot more processing power and a cool Jeordie Laforge  "visor"  to see and navigate around obstacles, people and pets. It maps out the room and does the job with 90 watts of power in less than half the time it takes the 3rd generation Roomba 500 series.

http://trilobite.electrolux.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolux_Trilobite

and I got this "low millage" store demo for literally pennies on the dollar.

Not a "Low mileage pit woofy to create a memory with????"