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View Full Version : pic: Vex + Roomba = Voomba

Chuck Glick
08-02-2007, 13:54
[cdm-description=photo]26747[/cdm-description]
Tom Bottiglieri
08-02-2007, 13:56
How are you driving the motors?

If you had a working roomba, this would be a pretty easy way to drive it. Just pass the inputs from the controller through the serial port to the roomba.
Greg Marra
08-02-2007, 14:05
How are you driving the motors?

If you had a working roomba, this would be a pretty easy way to drive it. Just pass the inputs from the controller through the serial port to the roomba.

If you program the VEX RC right to talk serial to the Roomba, it is just a command to drive the motors at some speed such that the Roomba will drive at some angle. Once you get the serial drivers working on the VEX RC, it is pretty straightforward.

The Roomba even tells you what its sensors are seeing, so you can respond intelligently. And you can even tell it not to override the fall sensors so it doesn't drive down stairs.
Brandon Holley
08-02-2007, 14:17
pretty freakin sweet...who would throw out a roomba?
Kingofl337
08-02-2007, 14:30
I just bought a discovery off E-bay to do this! I can't believe I got beat to it!
:mad:


How are you driving the motors with Victors? Your not using the vex motors are you? Maybe I will be the first with a CMUCAM on a Rumba :rolleyes:


Good work I appoint you skillz points.
ZZII 527
08-02-2007, 14:30
iRobot now has a product called the Create that is basically a programmable Roomba. But it looks like you beat them to it. :)

http://store.irobot.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=2597845
Chuck Glick
08-02-2007, 14:31
How are you driving the motors?

If you had a working roomba, this would be a pretty easy way to drive it. Just pass the inputs from the controller through the serial port to the roomba.

Basically I opened up four motor modules and took out the "speed controllers" and then took the leads from the existing motors on the roomba and soldered them to the servo boards, and pluged them straight into the microcontroller.
Kingofl337
08-02-2007, 14:32
I got a used discovery for only $40.00 though and I have a pile vex controllers and old 883s.
Chuck Glick
08-02-2007, 14:32
iRobot now has a product called the Create that is basically a programmable Roomba. But it looks like you beat them to it. :)

http://store.irobot.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=2597845

well can that one still vacuum? I think not!:D
Chuck Glick
08-02-2007, 14:35
I just bought a discovery off E-bay to do this! I can't believe I got beat to it!
:mad:


How are you driving the motors with Victors? Your not using the vex motors are you? Maybe I will be the first with a CMUCAM on a Rumba :rolleyes:


Good work I appoint you skillz points.

Sorry Adam, we must have the same mindset... and if I had a CMUCAM layin' around, I'd try that too. Currently I'm planning on puting a webcam on it so we can control it from long distances completely remotely.

and what I did to control the motors was just take out the control boards of the VEX motor modules and resolder the leads from the Roomba to them.
karlcswanson
08-02-2007, 16:32
The roomba has a fully documented (http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=256) serial interface that provides access to everything from its motors, to its speakers. The todbot blog (http://todbot.com/blog/) has many examples hacked roombas, including a trio of roombas Christmas caroling