A gizmo as cool as Roomba just begs to be hacked. Now, with this book and the official ROI specification furnished by iRobot®, you can become the robotic engineer you dreamed of being when you were 10. Build a Bluetooth interface for your Roomba. Turn it into an artist. Install Linux on it and give it a new brain. Some hacks are functional, others are purely fun. All of them let you play with robotics, and not one will void your warranty. You could say it's a clean sweep.

Fun ways to work the Roomba

All this — and it will still clean your floor!

1. Build a serial interface tether
2. Set up a Bluetooth® interface
3. Drive Roomba
4. Play with sensors
5. Make it sing
6. Create a Roomba artist
7. Use your Roomba as a mouse
8. Connect Roomba to the Net
9. Wi-Fi your Roomba
10. Replace Roomba's brain
11. Install Roomba-cam
12. Put Linux® on Roomba

Companion Web site

Get the official iRobot Roomba Open Interface (ROI) specification and all code presented in the book in ready-to-run form at www.wiley.com/go/extremetech

Hacking Roomba is a great way to learn the basics of robotics and have fun programming a robot without needing to build one from scratch – the hard and expensive way.  All the projects in Hacking Roomba can be done without breaking your Roomba, and without breaking the bank. And, of course, like all good hacking books, it shows how to install Linux on this great robotics platform. 

Topics covered include: Interfacing Roomba with the SCI and RoombaComm API Building a Roomba serial interface tether Building a Roomba Bluetooth interface Driving the Roomba Reading all the Roomba’ s sensors Making Roomba sing and dance Turning your Roomba into a Spirograph Connecting Roomba to the Internet Adding Wi-Fi to Roomba Adding a camera to Roomba

and more.

Introduction.

Part I: Interfacing.

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Roomba.3

Chapter 2: Interfacing Basics.

Chapter 3: Building a Roomba Serial Interface Tether.

Chapter 4: Building a Roomba Bluetooth Interface.

Chapter 5: Driving Roomba.

Chapter 6: Reading the Roomba Sensors.

Part II: Fun Things to Do.

Chapter 7: Making RoombaView.

Chapter 8: Making Roomba Sing.

Chapter 9: Creating Art with Roomba.

Chapter 10: Using Roomba as an Input Device.

Part III: More Complex Interfacing.

Chapter 11: Connecting Roomba to the Internet.

Chapter 12: Going Wireless with Wi-Fi.

Chapter 13: Giving Roomba a New Brain and Senses.

Chapter 14: Putting Linux on Roomba.

Chapter 15: RoombaCam: Adding Eyes to Roomba.

Chapter 16: Other Projects.

Appendix A: Soldering and Safety Basics.

Appendix B: Electrical Diagram Schematics.

Appendix C: iRobot Roomba Open Interface (ROI) Specification.

Index.