Android app

[oblio]

Is this new?
http://www.robotappstore.com/Apps/Neato ... 88DF40DAA9

[c.mueller]

Release Date: 03.03.2013

So i would say: Yes.

It is no secret the Neato can be controlled via USB. So Alexander Zakharyan has written an App to do so...

[Yemanja]

Great!!! But now wireless?

[vic7767]

No, it requires a tether cable.

[crowone]

Can I use 2 usb cables with a coupler? Female-Female

[vic7767]

Good question..... Try it and let us know if it works.

[Jeff_K]

Has anyone gotten this app to install (never mind work)?
I get the following error when trying to install:
"There is a problem parsing the package."

Settings/Applications/Unknown sources is checked (to allow unknown sources), but it doesn't help.

[crowone]

Yes, I install on a Samsung Note. (android 4.03)

just waiting for a connector.

[Gibby]

I am still waiting on my micro to usb connector, but I saw in the review it talks about Bluetooth.... I take it there is a mod required to enable bluetooth on the Neato?

[vic7767]

There is a mod that can be performed on the early XV-11s that Neato sold to the public. It requires disassembly and access to the main circuit board to add a 6 pin header and bluetooth module from Sparkfun.com. Then you will have bluetooth in your Neato.

Sad to say be all later models that Neato now offers do not contain the modified circuit board thus no more bluetooth.

[a4refillpad]

There is a mod that can be performed on the early XV-11s that Neato sold to the public

rev 113 or even older?

[vic7767]

Rev 113 and possibly older. Neato went after hackers with their early models big time.

[mfortuna]

Rev 113 and possibly older. Neato went after hackers with their early models big time.

Was it a case of going after hackers or just having provisions for debugging?

It would be a delicate soldering job but a bluetooth module could be added. Even though the header is gone, the signals are probably still there.

[a4refillpad]

Would be fantastic to be able to remotely launch the neato from a phone (maybe via Bluetooth hosted on a PC). Many scenarios like unexpected guests arriving or kicking it off because you are out longer than expected etc....

[glnc222]

Would be fantastic to be able to remotely launch the neato from a phone

Thanks to your reference to the Microsoft utility for controlling the USB port, a method of remotely launching Neato was posted in Mods for Utility http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=16475
Requires cable from PC or other device to the charger.

[vic7767]

Was it a case of going after hackers or just having provisions for debugging?

Pretty sure it was built for hackers since the USB port provided a way to send commands for debugging.

[a4refillpad]

Is there a link to a thread that describes the procedure? Soldering a USB header should be straightforward if I have the details and the right PCB.

[vic7767]

The USB to mini USB cable that is used for upgrading the firmware can also be used to send commands to the Neato via the PC and a terminal program like Hyperterm or Realterm.

The header statement was mentioned when adding the 6 pin bluetooth device to the rev 113 mainboard that included a 6 pin punching and foil trace to the Tx, Rx ports of the MCU.

I have opened a rev 64 Neato and observed that the 6 pin punching for installing a bluetooth device has been completely removed. I don't presently have a pinout of the MCU used on the main board to see if there is access to the TTL level Tx, Rx ports.

[glnc222]

more on serial vs usb at http://www.robotreviews.com/chat/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=16754

[glnc222]

Pretty sure it [main board serial header] was built for hackers since the USB port provided a way to send commands for debugging.

It could have been a legacy of development where all the pieces of a USB interface, software and specialized parts for the final product, were not initially available and the serial port was easier and faster to build and use for development work. From what I see, somewhat cumbersome high capacity equipment is used as USB hosts, from the purpose of that standard, for disk drives and the like, which also makes radio connection to Neato's usb not so easy, if they needed that. Initially the USB section just got added onto an existing board design left to be refined in later revisions, which finally happened. They might have had some test equipment left over as well, which later got revised to USB. A sort of leap frog pattern of changes, add something first, then later drop something. Maybe it is to run both things for a while until the new stuff is checked out more, like new accounting systems run in parallel with old, before committing to the advance.