Irobot CREATE User Manual

®

iRobot

Create

OWNER’S GUIDE

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Important Safety Instructions

GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

• Read all safety and operating instructions before operating iRobot Create.

• Retain the safety and operating instructions for future reference.

• Heed all warnings on iRobot Create, battery, charger and in owner’s manual.

• Follow all operating and use instructions.

• Refer all non-routine ser vicing to iRobot.

Create USE RESTRICTIONS

• Roomba is for indoor use only.

• Do not sit or stand on this device. Small children and pets should be super vised

when iRobot Create is on.

• Do not pour or spray water onto iRobot Create.

• Do not use iRobot Create to pick up anything that is burning or smoking.

• Always remove the batter y before long-term storage or transpor tation.

• iRobot Create has built-in safety sensors to keep it from falling down stairs and bumping
hard into walls. iRobot is not responsible for any product issues that may arise if you
disable those sensors.

iRobot BATTERY AND CHARGING

• Charge using a standard U.S. (120V AC) outlet only. Product may not be used with any
type of power converter. Use of other power conver ters will immediately void the warranty.

• Use only the charger supplied by the manufacturer to charge this device.

• Do not use a charger with a damaged cord or plug.

• Charge indoors only.

• iRobot Create’s power supply may be protected with a sur ge protector in the event of
severe electrical storms.

• Never handle chargers with wet hands.

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iRobot Create Owner’s Guide

Table of Contents

About iRobot Create .................................................... 4

Anatomy ..................................................................... 5

Demos ....................................................................... 7

Powering iRobot Create ................................................ 8

Cargo Bay Connector ................................................... 10

Open Interface Commands .......................................... 11

Sending OI Commands from a PC ............................ 11

Sending OI Commands from a Microprocessor .........

Creating a Script for iRobot Create ............................... 13

Accessories Available for iRobot Create ........................ 14

Virtual Wall® .......................................................... 14

Self Charging Home Base™ .................................... 15

Roomba Standard Remote ...................................... 15

iRobot Command Module ........................................ 16

iRobot Rechargeable Batter y ................................... 16

Troubleshooting .......................................................... 17

INDEX ......................................................................... 18

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About iRobot® Create

iRobot® Create is a complete robot development kit that
allows you to program new robot behaviors without having
to worry about mechanical assembly and low-level code.
iRobot Create’s Open Interface (OI) provides you with a set
of commands, such as “drive” commands, demo commands,
song commands and sensor commands, that encourage your
own inventiveness. With iRobot Create, you can develop new
behaviors and add third party electronics, all without having to
worry about mechanical robustness or low-level control.

When you first begin working with iRobot Create you may find its
ten built in demos useful as inspirations for your own ideas.
As you become more comfortable with its abilities and interface
you will want to write your own Open Interface-based programs
to control iRobot Create using a serial connection from a PC or
microprocessor such as the iRobot Command Module.

You can attach and control other hardware and electronic
devices to iRobot Create; such as a robotic arm, light
display, or a ranging sensor. It can also become a musical
instrument! By using the Song command you can write and
save up to 16 songs in iRobot Create. For more information on
iRobot Create’s OI commands, including demos and songs,
refer to the iRobot® Create Open Inter face (OI) Specification
found at www.irobot.com/create.

Thank you for purchasing iRobot Create. We hope you enjoy working
with it and we look forward to hearing about your experiences.

Sincerely,

The iRobot Create Team

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iRobot Create Owner’s Guide

Anatomy

Top View

Tailgate

Cargo Bay

Buttons and Lights

Cargo Bay
Connector

Power Button

Charging Socket

Play

Button

Advance Button

Omnidirectional
IR Receiver

Handle

6-32 Mounting
Cavities

Serial Port

Bottom View

Fourth Wheel

Power LED

Cliff Sensor

Openings

Battery

Play LED Advance LED

Contact
Points for
Home Base

Wheel Clips

www.irobot.com 5

Wheel Clips

iRobot Create comes equipped with wheel clips that hold its main wheels in
the Retracted position. You can remove the wheel clips, which automatically
places the wheels into the Released position. Save them in case you later
want to use iRobot Create with the wheels in the Retracted position. There
are advantages to both the Retracted and Released wheel positions.

• The Retracted wheel position (clips in place) provides iRobot Create
with greater stability. This is useful if you are running iRobot Create
with a payload.

• The Released wheel position (clips removed) provides iRobot Create
with greater mobility. This is useful if you want iRobot Create to travel
over uneven surfaces.

Adding the Fourth Wheel

iRobot Create comes with an additional unattached fourth wheel that allows
for greater stability and prevents the back of the robot from dragging when
you add payloads. The fourth wheel is not necessary unless iRobot Create
is running with a payload.

To attach the four th wheel, remove all payloads
from iRobot Create and turn it over so you can
see the underside. Slide the fourth wheel into
the grooves at the back of the robot, with the
wheel angled toward the back (see figure 1).
Push it in until it clicks into place. To remove it,
depress the tab in front of the grooves and slide
the wheel out.

Adding Weight to the Tailgate

iRobot Create comes with a tailgate that enables
you to change the center of gravity of the robot by
adding weight to the back portion of the robot. This is

useful when running iRobot Create with a payload.

To add weight:

• Remove the 2 screws that are securing the
tailgate to the robot.

• Remove the 5 screws holding down the
cover of the tailgate.

• Insert pennies (or other weights) into the
inside tailgate slots.

• Screw the cover back on the tailgate and
screw the tailgate back on the robot.

Tailgate

Figure 1.

iRobot Create’s

fourth wheel

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iRobot Create Owner’s Guide