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 servicing 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 supervised 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 battery before long-term storage or transportation.

•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 converters 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 surge protector in the event of severe electrical storms.

•Never handle chargers with wet hands.

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..........	12
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 Battery...................................	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 Interface (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

iRobot Create Owner’s Guide

Anatomy

Top View

Omnidirectional

IR Receiver

Handle

6-32 Mounting

Cavities

Tailgate

Serial Port

Cargo Bay

Charging Socket

Cargo Bay

Connector

Buttons and Lights

Play

Power Button Button Advance Button

Power		LED	Play		LED Advance		LED

Bottom View

Cliff Sensor

Openings

Battery

Contact

Points for

Home Base

Wheel Clips

Fourth Wheel

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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 fourth 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.	Tailgate

Figure 1.

iRobot Create’s

fourth wheel

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

iRobot Create Owner’s Guide