Web-controlled Twittering Roomba

I wanted to see if I could operate my Roomba remotely and get it to report its status via Twitter while I was away from home. I also wanted to make the device independent of a computer. This is the solution I came up with and it works very well.

Follow @TheRoomba on Twitter to see what mine is doing!

Step 1 Needed Parts and Tools

Parts:

• 1x - Small signal, low power PNP transistor (I used a 2N2907A (may also be known as NTE159))
• 1x - 8-Pin mini DIN male connector
• 1x - 7805 5V voltage regulator
• 1x - Solderless breadboard
• 1x - Arduino board
• 1x - Sparkfun WiFly Arduino shield
• Row of five or more male pin headers
• A short piece of Cat5 cable or similar wire (Cat5 is 24 AWG)
• And last but certainly not least, a Roomba*

Tools:

• Soldering iron
• Small scissors
• Third hand
• Hot glue gun
• Multimeter

Assumptions:

• For the purpose of this Instructable, I am going to be assuming that you have a basic knowledge of basic electronics,  the Arduino and the Arduino's programming language.

*I have only tested this with the 500 Series. However, it should work with newer models, but I am not sure about older models.

Comments

[robotmaker]

very nice job

[ballin147]

this is a good invention very good invention actually and you should get it to say im bout to explode when its filled up

[garrettmikesmith]

The fact that it tweets is hilarious. "I'm all done with the living room!" lol

[atlantica]

Why not strap a camera to it and remotely check out whats goin on at home?
No burglar would suspect that. A dog\s eye view... haha

[matchlighter]

I thought about it, but the Arduino does not have the necessary processing power to use the camera with the WiFly.

[Alderin]

There is an Arduino Shield Compatible board with a Parallax Propeller chip that would have the processing power, while still being able to use the Arduino shields. Not quite as easy to program, though.

http://mghdesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1

[matchlighter]

Hmmm... I will have to look into that. I have also heard that the FEZ Panda has the processing power?

[Kasm279]

It sure is being picked up a lot :P

[matchlighter]

I like making it mad ;)

[elabz]

Trying to eliminate some confusion: the connector diagram above is for a Mini-DIN7, not Mini-DIN8 as noted on the previous page. They don't count the circular ground shroud as a pin, although it does indeed provide a useful additional connection, normally to the ground. That said, however, you can fit a Mini-DIN8 plug into a Mini-DIN7 socket (which is what Roomba has). In other words, if you're looking for a connector, you can expand your search and get yourself either Mini-DIN7 or Mini-DIN8 plugs, both would work, just be careful with the pinout.

Or, and a word of caution, perhaps: there is a whole bunch of non-standard 7, 8 and 9 pin plugs out there, usually from power supplies of all sorts, that look like Mini-DINs but aren't. 

[matchlighter]

It appears that you are right. I got confused because some of the mini DIN 7's have a different pin out. I was also going off of the fact that the cable for the Roomba from Sparkfun is an 8 pin. thanks for pointing that out.