PC control of Roomba 4100

[Joefly]

Hi Guys, I recently ran across a Roomba 4100 at a goodwill shop. I have made up the Din7 cable to connect to my computer using a FT232RL UART serial to USB board. When I turn on the Roomba, I see status text coming from Roomba to my PC. However, that is it! Not further txt, even if I activate the Roomba into clean or engage any sensors.

So my questions is, 1) Am I in full communication mode capable? it seems it if I can able to correctly receive info from the Roomba, unless I have the TX from PC and RX of the Roomba somehow screwed up. But basically does the fact the PC getting the initial status info from Roomba mean that they are correctly connected?

2) There are some mention the need of OSMO on the 4100, How do I confirm if I need it? It seems to me if I am getting status info that the protocol must be at least working.

Basically i am asking if 1) Do I need OSMO 2) hopefully, not, is my wiring to FT232RL correct for wiring the serial communication? 3) How do I get this working!!!


PS. I only have the RX and TX connected, Do I need to connect the DD also. and how since the serial port does not have such as pin.
Thanks guys

[vic7767]

If your Roomba has a manufacture date before Oct, 2005 then your robot does not have the open interface firmware and will not respond to the ROI commands published in the pdf SCI document.

You have verified that your PC Rx side is working since you receive info from the Roomba. You can test the Tx by sending the command " 7 " and observe if your Roomba resets and sends the same startup info you have seen.

[mfortuna]

You don't need the DD pin connected.

[JamesRonald]

@ vic7767

You have verified that your PC Rx side is working since you receive info from the Roomba. You can test the Tx by sending the command " 7 " and observe if your Roomba resets and sends the same startup info you have seen.

So does sending the command " 7 " work for Roombas that are Pre Oct. 2005 to verify that serial commumications are working. Also when you say command "7" do you mean ACSII 7, 0x07 or something different. BTW, I just purchased a Roomba scheduler to update the firmware on a Roomba Red 4100 and Discovery to get SCI ROI capibiliies which didn't work. I saw you post regarding such not working eariler tonight. I will probably be renting a OSMO from you soon (I contacted you eariler this week). With the OSMO being so rare, I would think that someone would create a PC application that could do the same.

- Jim

[vic7767]

It would be the number 7. You can send it to the Roomba using RealTerm or TeraTerm. Also the reset command is not a documented command, is not one of the Open Interface commands commands provided with 2.1 fimware or via the OSMO Hacker device.

[mfortuna]

The OSMO is proprietary. Irobot is the only source for a PC app and I doubt they are ever going to do one.

[JamesRonald]

@vic7767

Thanks! That seemed to work great . The Roomba seems to reset or such upon receiving the command and emits the follow message:

Roomba by iRobot!
MC9S12DP256
2005-04-21-1834-L

I guess this confirms that both the TX and RX paths on the Roomba are working and were not toasted by a prior robot club member.

Our plan is for the club to have a number of Roombas with Raspberry Pi computers installed and doing interesting things for The Detroit Maker Faire.

I will contact you via email regarding renting an OSMO device once we can identify which Roombas will require the firmware update.

Thanks again.
James Ronald
www.MiRobotClub.com

[vic7767]

No problem, right now both OSMOs are back home in the shop awaiting their next assignment.