GNU/Linux software to control Roomba

I’m sure there are quite a few GNU/Linux users who own this great gadget (read: slave). I was wondering what do you guys use to control the robot?

I have mine equipped with a RooTooth, and it works great when I control it using my wife’s cellphone. I haven’t, on the other hand, found a good piece of software to control it from my computers.

Any recommendations? Also, has anyone installed GNU/Linux on it?

Links: iRobot - Roomba
My Roomba taking a shower: Roomba 530 - Gallery

July 3, 2008 | Filed Under GNU/Linux, Software

 

Comments

3 Responses to “GNU/Linux software to control Roomba”

  1. brett on July 3rd, 2008 10:46 pm

    If python is your poison:
    http://code.google.com/p/pyrobot/

    or for the more adventurous: http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/

    specifically:
    http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/doc/Player-2.0.0/player/group__driver__roomba.html

    I’ve only played around with using each of the libraries with a iRobot Create, not exactly a roomba.

  2. Aaron on July 4th, 2008 7:29 am

    I’m not sure if it’s completely open source or just part of it is, but URBI (http://www.gostai.com/irobotcreate.html) is a very powerful platform that works with many of the major robots available today. I’ve never used it on a Roomba, just on AIBOs, but it does have a version for Roombas and I assume it’s just as good.

    In one of my classes at school we also mounted little Linux boxes on top of the Roombas that communicated through the COM port, which allowed us to control them over wifi. The added weight of the boxes really cut down on the robot’s battery life though, so unless you run it on something tiny, it’s probably not such a great solution.

  3. Tiago Faria on July 5th, 2008 10:17 pm

    Thank you very much, for both comments. I’m going to take a look at the links you guys provided.

    Thanks.

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