VX-14 bluetooth via mini-usb?

[vic7767]

I've cut a USB to Mini USB cable in half, stripped the 4 leads (Red, Black, White, Green, and shield) connected the White and Green leads on the mini USB to the Rx, Tx on the WiFi (also tried reversing the two leads). Ran a separate lead from the Negative side of the WiFi battery to the Black lead on mini USB connector.

Not sure if Neato posters will read threads in the hacker section.

[glnc222]

Unless mistaken, the elechouse thing does not look like an interface to USB, just ordinary serial. USB chips are smart, handshake and even packetize on their own. I listed a USB-to-RS232 interface above, if that might connect to the WiFi board.
But you need a HOST usb interface connected to NEATO, don't know if that is one. Another listing was for that, but only connects to a microcontroller.

[vic7767]

I may have to pop the cover on this Neato and see if I can find a comm connection behind the USB port.

[glnc222]

That chip connected to the serial usb lines could have a parallel interface to the cpu or I/O LSI controller -- or that controller is the USB chip.
USB has extra exchanges between the two ends because it expects to transfer entire packets in a burst mode, warranting work to set that up. Another layer around the uart, embedded in chips instead of the driver code run by the cpu. The extra stuff creates the Host and Device, or client identities, not the packet contents itself, just like a router. It's more like a disk drive controller than a plain serial connection, with the controller commands sent over the same serial line instead of separate pins. At least my impression, all details unfamiliar.

[vic7767]

Ya, I could run into a mess but possibly there is still a connection on the board similar to the XV-11 bluetooth connection. If I can locate that then the WiFi board may work.

[glnc222]

Another USB Host shield for Arduino:
http://www.karlssonrobotics.com/shop/usb-host-shield/?gclid=CLuY-ZbF-7QCFcyf4AodnFQACQ

Only way without a regular serial port on the Neato board. similar cost.
Other stuff was for PC's, wrong end.

[mfortuna]

Besides the protocol issues the USB data lines are a bi-directional differential pair.

The Neato most likely has a USB to serial converter. If you connect the WiFi adapter on the serial side you will run into the issue were the converter is driving RX (from the PC) which will interfere with the WiFI adapter driving RX.

[glnc222]

remotely starting Neato

No hardware at all needed -- just put a PC to sleep after giving the "clean" command (possibly twice; mine doesn't show the "unplug" error msg till a second hit). PC's disconnect their USB jacks in sleep mode, and Neato takes off.
Have to plug it back in manually, only good one shot.
To get a PC to sleep remotely might require just letting it time out after disconnecting, or some sort of scheduling feature might be found, and fiddling with timeout paramters in windows power management.

[added: the PC can also set the Neato schedule instead of directly initiating the run]

[a4refillpad]

You can try using the devcon.exe commandline utility downloadable from Microsoft. It is used to control, scan, enable or disable any devices that appear in windows. If you use it to disable the neato device then it would probably behave in the manner you require.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/311272

[glnc222]

Devcon doesn't list Vista, Win7, 8. Driver structure was revised, so iffy. Tried it?

[glnc222]

Smallest Arduino, "femto", for mounting inside vacuums: http://www.femtoduino.com/
Around 3/4" x 1/2"

More integrated USB http://arduino.cc/en/Main/ArduinoBoardADK
seems to combine the usb host shield with the processor, just the thing -- just add wifi. Lots of software.
Appears around 2x3"

Arduino Nano and USB host made to plug together just a different shape, thinner but thicker.
Whichever is easiest to attach the WiFi part.

Power supply seems a problem on the ADK, more than Neato's 5v, but the Nano will run right off that.
Carried by familiar Robot Shop besides the usual suspects. The host shield has software. The usb appears to plug right into the nano board. (Wikipedia misleading on power specs, uses internal levels it seems -- must check supplier specs, voltage regulators)

[a4refillpad]

Devcon doesn't list Vista, Win7, 8. Driver structure was revised, so iffy. Tried it?

looks like it works on mine. If you need a 64bit version for your OS then here's another link. http://social.technet.microsoft.com/wik ... n-exe.aspx

[glnc222]

Another device to connect a Neato USB wirelessly is a "wireless USB hub", same as a regular hub with wireless connection to PC's. Could be the same flaky line of site tech mentioned previously.
Review of this one (with photo below) http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/other/other-reviews/30175-iogear-wireless-usb-hub-and-adapter-review-deja-vu-all-over-again

Arduino's allow making one of these for a single port more compactly. The standard ones are all four port, if you can squeeze that in and supply the power needed.

edit: the reason most Arduino's don't do host usb is fully capable hosts must handle high speed voluminous data streams from things like disk drives, requiring PC grade power, for which only faster and power hungry Arduino's can do such as Due, drawing a full amp of power like a PC. So the software which might be useful for Neato isn't common, but there is the nano offerings. The Micro usb board for Femto isn't supported for it because that processor isn't considered fast enough.

Edit: one source of USB and Bluetooth interfacing software for microcontrollers:
http://www.fourwalledcubicle.com/LUFA.php
commentary http://www.avrfreaks.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=printview&t=74108&start=0
Interesting there are different types of usb devices and protocols.

Alternative to the dubious Arduino Nano host (some bad reviews):
http://www.circuitsathome.com/products-page/arduino-shields/usb-host-shield-2-0-for-arduino