iRobot Create: WiFi Optimizer

Gather round and follow this here Instructable to transform your iRobot Create into your very own personal WiFi scanner and optimizer! What the iRobot Create will do is find the best WiFi signal in a given area or room based on discrete sample relative to the iRobot's starting position.

Here's what you need for this project:

One (1) iRobot Create
Three (3) DB9/D-Sub Male Connectors (9 Pin) - You can pick these up at Radio Shack
Wire
One (1) WiFi Signal Detector from IO Gear - Here @ Radio Shack

~The one used in this project has five LEDs, four green displaying signal strength when signal is available, and one red when no signal is found

Tools needed:

Soldering Iron
Flux/Soldering Paste
Computer

What it does:

Takes in WiFi data from four spots, North (up), West (left), South (down), and East (right).
Analyzes data, moves towards best wireless direction.
Continues to get WiFi data and move towards the best direction.

When the data is found, beeps are transmitted for the signal strength. That is, 1 beep for 1 bar strength, 2 beeps for 2 bars, etc. The beeps also move up octaves for each level of signal. The iRobot will continue its algorithm to infinity, and is based around the gradient descent algorithm.

Please "+" this if you like it!

#Featured on Make:Blog!
& BitShift

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Crack Open Your Wifi Detector

"If you can't open it, you don't own it." is one of my favorite Make phrases. Take off the back battery panel and then grab a small flathead screwdriver to pry it open. There are clips holding the gadget together at the two ends of the long sides (see pic). Be careful not to scratch or hit the circuit board when opening.

wq2315563 says: Aug 6, 2009. 7:05 PM

不知道还有这东西的啊 ·1

Patrik says: Aug 30, 2007. 3:23 AM

Nifty! I expect the wifi signal will also change depending on how far up from the ground you are. Hopefully, the spatial variation won't be too large though. Is there any existing software available to enable the roomba to layout the space it's exploring? It would be really cool if you could visualize the signal strength in your entire home. Hmm... wifi LED throwies? :D

kwhizr says: Feb 21, 2008. 1:28 PM

I think you could do this with some small RFID tags. There is software that will monitor some WIFI RFID tags for locations, and map to a floorplan. ( http://www.ekahau.com/ ) I agree that the floor is not the best possible place for sensing WIFI signal strength though.
Cool instructable.

wolfy02 says: Dec 22, 2007. 3:02 AM

great idea, but the title is a bit off. I don't really see where this is an Optimizer for your wifi signal unless it can repeat it. Although it looks like you have enough room in that thing to do so, do i smell another project?

Canta Tora says: Sep 26, 2007. 11:36 PM

This would be a great idea for network people installing a wireless system in conference rooms, meeting halls, etc. Most routers are in a closet and several walls separating them from the desired location. and some sheetrock with a fire code rating actually have an aluminum layer on them. Using the wifi to map out strategic areas to place a wifi repeater.

bleachworthy says: Aug 29, 2007. 1:57 PM

wow, good job. still baffled on what it's supposed to do, but nice work anyways. it would be cool to make that thing a wifi repeater, so it drives to wherever the signal edge is, and then repeat it.

technick29 says: Aug 29, 2007. 2:47 PM

Sorry about that. There's a clearer explanation in the intro now. Thanks, and that's a pretty sweet idea!

crapflinger says: Aug 29, 2007. 11:21 AM

nice instructable...but i may have missed something....what exactly does it do? just drive around with LEDs blinking? does it make a map of the wireless range? what is it doing? why did you connect the wifi finder to the thing in the first place?

technick29 says: Aug 29, 2007. 2:46 PM

Sorry about the confusion. The iRobot Create gets data from the WiFi detector and emits beeps for the signal strength. It takes in four original points and then analyzes the data, moving toward the direction of the strongest signal.