Roomba Tricks

[riverdees05 Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close riverdees05]

What does one do to keep their Roomba from getting stuck under chairs and/or beds?

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

We put my wife's purse behind her recliner. It's (purse) about the size of a SUV!

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

When I opened this thread I was expecting to read about how some people had hacked the code inside their Roomba and reprogrammed the Roomba to do some tricks - maybe dancing or peridocially beeping "Whistle While You Work" as it did its chores.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

When I opened this thread I was expecting to read about how some people had hacked the code inside their Roomba and reprogrammed the Roomba to do some tricks - maybe dancing or peridocially beeping "Whistle While You Work" as it did its chores.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Jestjoan Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jestjoan]

Coming Soon: The iRobot Create Kit

Engadget has uncovered an FCC filing about a new product that iRobot will be releasing specifically for hacking: The iRobot Create Kit:

"As much fun as vacuums can be, it looks like iRobot has sensed the true spirit behind its Roomba fanbase: hacking. Now they've gone ahead and built the iRobot Create kit to give hackers a better platform to work with. According to the FCC docs which have revealed this little number, the main differences are a lack of vacuum -- no more clean floors for you -- and a nifty "cargo bay connector" which can support a Command Module which bristles with ports and allows user-added motors, sensors and the like. Otherwise, most functions are quite similar to that of the third generation Roomba, with support for Virtual Walls, the Homebase (which it can hone in on via IR) and the Remote Control. As for software support, iRobot provides a few tips in the manual, like how to make the bot sing, along with some demo programs to get you started, but otherwise you're on your own -- though we're sure you won't have a hard time stumbling across existing Roomba hacker clubs online. Naturally, since iRobot hasn't even announced this kit yet, we're not sure about price and availability, and it would've been nice if they'd spruced up the bot's functionality just a wee bit, but we suppose giving hackers the Command Module and letting them run free might be the best tactic in the end."

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

When I opened this thread I was expecting to read about how some people had hacked the code inside their Roomba and reprogrammed the Roomba to do some tricks - maybe dancing or peridocially beeping "Whistle While You Work" as it did its chores.

I was thinking that maybe it could do flips...
Connie

[vinolover Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vinolover]

I was thinking the same thing.

Me too. That's scary that we're all starting to think alike.

[vinolover Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vinolover]

What does one do to keep their Roomba from getting stuck under chairs and/or beds?

Actually I'll be fair and post a real answer.

After several months of doing the Roomba Rumba we have figured out all the possible places in our home where Rosie can get stuck.

If it's something that can easily be moved (like our barstools) I just move them out of the line of fire. If it's something large (like in between the sofa and the end table) I block it off with the magazine basket. We've also learned to turn the legs on our swivel desk chairs at an angle where she can't get stuck. And we make sure the bathroom and laundry room doors are fully opened so she can't close them with her inside (one day she vacuumed our tiny guest bathroom for about an hour ).

Believe me, it's worth it to take the time of making these small precautions rather using our time to vacuum our house every day the "old fashioned" way.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Actually I'll be fair and post a real answer.

After several months of doing the Roomba Rumba we have figured out all the possible places in our home where Rosie can get stuck.

If it's something that can easily be moved (like our barstools) I just move them out of the line of fire. If it's something large (like in between the sofa and the end table) I block it off with the magazine basket. We've also learned to turn the legs on our swivel desk chairs at an angle where she can't get stuck. And we make sure the bathroom and laundry room doors are fully opened so she can't close them with her inside (one day she vacuumed our tiny guest bathroom for about an hour ).

Believe me, it's worth it to take the time of making these small precautions rather using our time to vacuum our house every day the "old fashioned" way.

I think I've decided our Roomba is a he. DW hasn't decided yet - though she seems to regard it at times like a puppy.

[vinolover Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vinolover]

I think I've decided our Roomba is a he. DW hasn't decided yet - though she seems to regard it at times like a puppy.

Yes, we talk to ours in the same tone that we use to talk to the cat and dog.

Our Scooba is a he.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Yes, we talk to ours in the same tone that we use to talk to the cat and dog.

Our Scooba is a he.

DW now says about our Roomba: "it's definitely a 'he'. It's too random to be female."