Roomba + Tablet PC = ?

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Posted by ryuzaki0 on Sunday February 29, 2004 @04:52AM from the because-you-can dept.

ptorrone writes "Using "off the shelf parts" I have constructed another pretty good mobile robot for my home. A Tablet PC is the brain and the Roomba robot vac is the locomotion. I'm currently working on sending the IR commands from the pc to the Roomba and having the robot "do a tour" and post photos / video automatically to the "roblog" (my robot photo blog). So yah, the Tablet PC sucks ;-]"

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I have been thinking about doing something similar by dj28 · 2004-02-29 04:53 · Score: 5, Informative

Also, here is a list of other home-built robot projects on the web. They are interesting, however many of them are not as complex as this person's robot.

Some interesting projects include: OmniPede and TuteBot.
Just pics on that site? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-29 04:53 · Score: 5, Funny

This shouldn't get posted until there are detailed instructions on how to build :)
lots of graphics... by chrisopherpace · 2004-02-29 04:53 · Score: 5, Funny

hope that robot can double as a webserver!

--

Bored? Why not join a decent mess
cost by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-29 04:55 · Score: 4, Insightful

this is all great if you're rich, but people like me just don't have $2000 dollars (and let's face it, a tablet pc costs significantly more than a desktop) to more or less throw away (and if you do I have some land in florida to sell you), this is useless. this is one of those rare moments where you're better off buying stuff in the store instead of assembling it yourself.
1. Re:cost by toesate · 2004-02-29 05:16 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  On a similar note on cost..
  
  Maybe I am thick here, but why use a tablet?
  
  Wouldn't a cheaper notebook, or trashware with LCD panel serve similar purpose?
  
  The upfront economics do not make sense. If someone could elaborate..
  
  --
  Hey, that's my password you are typing
2. Re:cost by koreth · 2004-02-29 05:56 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Yeah, heaven forbid someone should spend $2000 on a hobby. What a moron.
3. Re:cost by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-29 06:00 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Why use a tablet? Maybe because he had one lying around. Seems pretty obvious to me. Anybody smart enough to put together a simple robot like this would know that a tablet PC is really overkill for this and wouldn't go and buy one specifically for the purpose. I'm sure that if he had an old laptop he wasn't using he'd have used that instead.
4. Re:cost by ericspinder · 2004-02-29 06:54 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  The upfront economics do not make sense. If someone could elaborate.
  You must be new here...
  because it's cool. Many "hack" projects are created not to save money, but to do something orginal, or difficult. If you want to do your "roombot" a little cheaper with an old notebook, more power to you, it might even be a better hack.
  I also doubt if he purchased the tablet with this application in mind. He probally just got "tired" of each of those toys. The Roomba, itself isn't all that practical. My Mother has one, and it doesn't suck well, is a tripping hazard when operating, and can't get dirt next to item (like couches, walls, etc.). Also, most people here seem to have little respect for the tablet as well.
  
  --
  The grass is only greener, if you don't take care of your own lawn.
5. Re:cost by JCMay · 2004-02-29 15:16 · Score: 2, Informative
  As a happy Roomba owner (had mine over a year now), I will rebut.
  
  No, the Roomba doesn't have a loud buzzer to warn people of its presence. Why? It's freakin' LOUD! If you don't here the Roomba running, you wouldn't hear the buzzer!
  
  Does the "real" Roomba(TM) carefully trace around furniture legs.(sic) Sure it does, provided they're large enough. I've got a four footed pedistal table in the dining room. It goes under there and around its feet just fine.
  
  Does it "remember" to go around the couch. NO, it just bounces around, util it is about outta juice, and then homes in on the power. No, that's not right, either. While it doesn't have an internal map of its environs, it's only $200. Yes, its motions look random, but it really has at least three different patterns: spiral, edge following, straight line until an obstacle is met. It has three different room size settings, which really just adjust a timer. Larger rooms get more time on the clock. Yes, it can run out of power, but no, it won't look for the charger. It just blinks a red LED and chimes a four-note tune that my wife and I have taken to mean, "I'm so tired!"
  
  It doesn't suck well with its tiny little impeller, but it has something a dustbuster doens't: sweeping roller brooms. The Roomba uses suction to pick up dander and dust, but larger items like coins, sand, furballs, etc., get picked up with the rubber flapper/brush roller combination. Quite effective on our wood floors.
  
  By the way, what kind of behaviors do you want? Its brain is a Microchip PIC microcontroller with something like 256 bytes of memory. Whoopee!
I for one... by ixplodestuff8 · 2004-02-29 04:55 · Score: 5, Funny

I for one Welcome our new unstable likely to crash and overated tablet overlords
Function? by KingDaveRa · 2004-02-29 04:55 · Score: 4, Insightful

Just wondering quite what it's meant to do? Its got a tablet PC stuck on top, with a webcam. So where's the story behind it?
1. Re:Function? by moonbender · 2004-02-29 05:01 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Function? It's a computer that can see and move. That is its function. If you need more than that, Slashdot might not be the best page to view. ;)
  
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  Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
2. Re:Function? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-29 05:05 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Easy. Clippy says: It looks like you're trying to build a collection of home made porn. Would you like me to use my webcam to peek under skirts?
Infa-Red? by Ianoo · 2004-02-29 04:58 · Score: 5, Insightful

...IR commands from the pc to the Roomba...
Doesn't the tablet have Wi-Fi? Why not use this as your communication medium instead? You wouldn't need to have a line of sight or even write special software (just ssh into the robot and type commands at the console ;)).

Using a suitable video application (streaming server?) it would be possible to look through the webcam and steer around the house. The advantage of using a standard x86 tablet PC are that all of the things you need are already available, and there's very little to "work on".

Very nice idea, though.
1. Re:Infa-Red? by duffbeer703 · 2004-02-29 05:19 · Score: 4, Interesting
  
  He probally bought a tablet PC, figuring that he would organize his life and be able to run faster and jump higher.
  
  Then he found that he never used it. Plus, it's hard to run with a pocketpc in your pocket.
  
  Same thing with the roomba. Sure, it looks cool... but its just plain easier and quicker to use a real vacuum.
  
  --
  Conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth. -JFK
2. Re:Infa-Red? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-29 05:24 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I think they might mean from the tablet to the Roomba, as the Roomba uses IR to tell where walls are and the like (at least thats what the brochure for it seems to say). Although from the pictures it looks like it doesn't have the top on and they might be controlling some of the internals directly.
3. Re:Infa-Red? by rebelcool · 2004-02-29 05:58 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Using a suitable video application (streaming server?) it would be possible to look through the webcam and steer around the house
  
  For real autonomous steering you're going to need a couple of cams for stereoscopic vision, plus some badass software to handle it, of your own creation.
  
  stereoscopic navigation is still fairly new, even in the research world..i don't think there are any software packages out there you can go grab to work with. a quick google seems to support this since "stereoscopic robot navigation" returns mostly research papers..
  
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4. Re:Infa-Red? by koreth · 2004-02-29 06:04 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  but its just plain easier and quicker to use a real vacuum.
  
  I suppose if you're doing your vacuuming on a tight schedule, but otherwise how is a real vacuum easier than "press a button, leave the room and go do something else"?
  Having a Roomba means my floor gets vacuumed every couple of days, rather than every few weeks (and that's when I was feeling especially motivated.) I usually start it going right before I leave for work, so I really don't care how long it takes to cover the entire room.
  The only extra work is having to pick stuff up off the floor first, but you have to do that with a regular vacuum too.
5. Re:Infa-Red? by jspraul · 2004-02-29 06:23 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  maybe because the actual roomba is the one receiving ir commands from the tablet pc? (not that i read the article either)
good to know by BobTheLawyer · 2004-02-29 05:00 · Score: 5, Funny

finally someone's discovered a use for a Tablet PC
1. Re:good to know by Coulson · 2004-02-29 07:08 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  I'm writing "ha, ha" on my tablet input area.
  
  No really, I am.
artical title looks like ... by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-29 05:01 · Score: 3, Funny

1. Roomba
2. Tablet PC
3. ???
4. Profit!
1. Re:artical title looks like ... by AgentAce · 2004-02-29 06:23 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  1. ACs list things that end in profit
  2. stupid lists get old after the 5000th thread
  3. )(*&!@#)(*%&%^)*(
  4. STFU
Widescreen HDTV by Aliencow · 2004-02-29 05:01 · Score: 4, Funny

Maybe with a wide 50inch plasma HDTV you could have it walk around with an animation of a human on it...kind of like in that crappy time travel movie with the guy in the library.. Then some porn company would probably buy you out..
it's the long lost brother of... by caino59 · 2004-02-29 05:02 · Score: 4, Funny

johnny dep!
1. Re:it's the long lost brother of... by Micro$will · 2004-02-29 05:20 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  And he's always serious . That's so cool.
2. Re:it's the long lost brother of... by Rolo+Tomasi · 2004-02-29 05:58 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Ah, the touching tale of two brothers, one of which would become a famous movie star, while the other would go on to become a technophile pimp, building robots and surfing the web in his pimp outfit and purple hat. I would totally see that movie.
  Well, maybe not.
  
  --
  Did you know you can fertilize your lawn with used motor oil?
3. Re:it's the long lost brother of... by evilmango · 2004-02-29 06:30 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  He also has some kind of a inverse homer simpson beard thing going on.
4. Re:it's the long lost brother of... by breon.halling · 2004-02-29 06:47 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Not Depp! Five!
  
  --
  "Yeah, well, Dracula called and he's coming over tonight for you and I said okay."
What is significant about it? by xanthines-R-yummy · 2004-02-29 05:05 · Score: 5, Insightful

I'll be the first to admit I'm not an engineer or know anything about robotics, but how is this a significant robot again? I used to build RC cars/trucks and those were controlled by simple electronics which I'm sure could easily be controlled by a computer like a Palm pilot. The tablet PC is pretty cool-looking, but beyond that it doesn't seem to actually do very much. Why does the robot need a big diplay itself? Since it's on a vacuum you'd have to bend over pretty far to see anything on the screen. Or at least I would, because I'm over 6ft tall (183cm)!
Still, it has a pretty high geek-cool factor!
1. Re:What is significant about it? by Kierthos · 2004-02-29 05:13 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  What I want to know is how is this so different from doing the same thing with Lego Mindstorms? I mean, for the price of the tablet PC and the Roomba, I can buy a lot of Mindstorms kits, and make a Lego-bot that can traverse a house... heck, Lego even had a cheap web cam with one of the kits...
  
  Oh wait, it can't vacuum. That must be it.
  
  Kierthos
  
  --
  Mr. Hu is not a ninja.
2. Re:What is significant about it? by xanthines-R-yummy · 2004-02-29 05:50 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Yeah, I was referring to those actually (The speed control for the motor and the servo control all fit into a nice little package small than any MP3 player could be). I'm sure a competent engineer could modify that thing to accept command from a Palm/iPaq/tablet/whatever. In fact, they are all radio-controlled so someone really clever could probably find a way to use 802.11a/b/g operate the thing.
  If I knew anything about physics, engineering, science, or computers, I might have given it a try!
Roomba + Tablet PC = ? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-29 05:07 · Score: 5, Funny

A device that simultaneously sucks and blows.
great! by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-29 05:08 · Score: 5, Funny

i've always wanted to find a way to scare my cat, take pictures of it, and clean my room all at the same time.

anybody else think he looks kind of like the killer boyfriend in scream 1?
Home Security Roomba! by Dark+Lord+Seth · 2004-02-29 05:08 · Score: 3, Funny

Just add this to it!

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Hate me!
I'm sorry Dave by Digitus1337 · 2004-02-29 05:12 · Score: 4, Funny

Open the screen door HAL. HAL, do you read me HAL? Open the screen door.
Are you crazy ? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-02-29 05:14 · Score: 5, Funny

the sticker quite clearly says, its designed for Windows(TM) not floors !
Great project for old Palm Pilot? by vjlen · 2004-02-29 05:25 · Score: 5, Insightful

I seem to remember a number of Palm robot projects out there. Add a Palm to a Roomba? Could be fun AND cheap.
Linux On TabletPCs by wehe · 2004-02-29 05:26 · Score: 4, Informative

Hey, just in case you are looking for Linux on TabletPCs to get your robot running with a free OS.
Something similar by lxt · 2004-02-29 05:34 · Score: 2, Interesting

I tried something similar once for a student computer competition. It was basically a basterdised 486 laptop with the screen flipped 180, with web cam, set in acrylic with some servos linked to a serial port. The biggest problem was communication (it being a) when Wi-Fi was way too much, and b) this laptop not having a PC card), so in the end I ended up with a hack whereby the robot communicated with a wireless mouse :)
magnetic fields? by NSash · 2004-02-29 05:35 · Score: 4, Insightful

I don't know about this Roomba, but IIRC most vacuum cleaners generate a pretty powerful magnetic field. Might not be the best thing to strap a Tablet PC to...
Re:Spare parts? by JVert · 2004-02-29 06:00 · Score: 2, Informative

The HP TC1000's can be found for around 1,000. Tigerdirect had them refurbished, ebay has them pretty consistantly.
A faster way... by peterprior · 2004-02-29 06:17 · Score: 3, Informative

Thinkgeek sell a motorised platform you can attach a laptop to called the ER1 Personal Robot System.
See more details here
Reading this on a tablet right now by Coulson · 2004-02-29 07:05 · Score: 2, Informative

Turns out, I can jump higher now than I could when I first bought my TabletPC -- but for entirely unrelated reasons. However, it has been an excellent organizational tool. OneNote lets you mark lines on various documents as TODO, then you can work off of your one auto-conglomerated TODO list. For that alone I appreciate it.
As someone who actually has a Roomba ... by phoxix · 2004-02-29 07:24 · Score: 3, Informative

..... I can say it sucks

We have on in the office, to collect all the random bits of paper and whatnot thats on the carpet. We thought it would be a great idea too, but it really isn't.

The problem with the Roomba is that the "dirt compartment" is soooo small. So when you do get around to sucking things up, in little to no time is it full. Additionally because there is no warning, it can go on for a while, just collection, and disposing dirt elsewhere. After a while the garbage on the carpet is worse than what it started out as. (Mind you we're pretty much you standard office)

Great idea, but bad product design

Sunny Dubey
1. Re:As someone who actually has a Roomba ... by koreth · 2004-02-29 07:33 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  I have a Roomba too and I've noticed the same thing -- but only when I go a while between cleanings. If I use it every couple of days, after a week or so it gets rid of enough accumulated dirt that subsequent runs don't fill up the compartment any more. If for whatever reason you can't use it that frequently, then yeah, it's probably not the right vacuum for you. I fire it up when I leave for the day, so it's no big deal to use it nearly daily.
You can do it cheaper by Heathkit · 2004-02-29 09:13 · Score: 5, Informative

A friend and I did the exact same thing a while ago, but using a hacked virgin webplayer. It's an internet appliance you can get for about $50 off of eBay. We just ran it off of NiMH batteries and woila, instant robot.
The details are here. We wrote up all of our notes, including the pinout of the roomba board in case anyone else wants to do this.
The pics on the guy's site by colmore · 2004-02-29 11:24 · Score: 2, Funny

Not enough info to tell if his robot is something special or not. But I can say this guy is trying waaaaay too hard to look like Johnny Depp. Nice hat.

--
In Capitalist America, bank robs you!