OMSO

uphiearl · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 27

Well, I am very confused now.

After much reading on the forums about interfacing to the roomba serial port, I built a MAX232 unit. It works GREAT. Now, I can run the factory tests, I can see the battery charging and temps when in charge mode, BUT, how to control.

I D/L several control programs, (Create iRobot Create TCP/Serial Interface v1.0 at http://irobotcreate.googlepages.com is my favorite) but still no CONTROL of the roomba from the program. I DO see ASCII data flowing tho.

So I find out ya need sci or roi to be in the FW. My FW date is 2005-09-21. Ok so I thought my unit needed that OMSO thingie. Well my SN does not start with a J. it is a refurbed unit SN PRR04199XXXXXXXXXXXX. I read on some site, (iRobot I think), that SN with a PRR already HAS the OMSO thing update.
So......DO I ...or ...DO I NOT need to OMSO the thing to gain control of it ? I am confused !

Anyone help please !!

Also, can the Roomba chargers and batteries work with the Create ? I am thinking of getting one.

Earl

Moderator's Note: Edited out Serial number.

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3519 Location: Louisiana

Do a search on this site for "Roomba Status" written by Black_64, that program should work on the Roomba you have. You can also send individual commands to activate your SCI interface and then turn on a motor or two and see if your Roomba responds. If not then you will need an OSMO.

Yes the batteries and chargers for your Roomba will also work on the Create.

uphiearl · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 27

How do you activate the SCI interface ? All I see is ascii data. I run the Create program, and I can send a reset (07) command and it does it. But no other commands respond.

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3519 Location: Louisiana

Sorry for the confusion. The SCI interface is active all the time what I meant was to send the 128 command prior to any other commands.

uphiearl · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 27

ok, well the 7 command does a reset but 128 130 xxx xxx whatever does nothing. I get no responce. I have done the remove battery reset and things but it appears I dont have an SCI interface or its broke. Any help here ?

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3519 Location: Louisiana

The 7 command (Reset) is not part of the OSMO Open Interface software and therefore the Roomba responds to it. Looks like you need the OSMO.

uphiearl · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 27

Thats what I think also. The tech people at irobot say my referebd unit ser number prrxxxxxx has the osmo done alresdy but I dont think so. Well, anyway, maby someone can lend me an osmo or I can buy one for29.95
Thanks for the help and I'll stay watching the forums
Earl

uphiearl · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 27

This is part of the reply I got from iRobot

Thank you for the information you provided. The product code: PRR04199050921xxxxxxx already has the OSMO software included. To download the OSMO again would not have any effect on the unit as it is a one time use item.

Still cant get any sci command to do anything tho.

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3519 Location: Louisiana

Do you have a Scheduler Remote and can you schedule your Roomba ?

uphiearl · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 27

no schelular here

uphiearl · Joined: 15 Jun 2008 Posts: 27

Will a Scheduler Remote upgrade the firmware ? Maby I could borrow one from someone.

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3519 Location: Louisiana

Contact Chris at RoombaExchange. He has a Cable for connecting the Scheduler to the SCI port that he loans out for no fee other than the cost of mailing. He may also have the Scheduler remote for sale.

JoeCreate · Joined: 19 Aug 2008 Posts: 3

[quote="uphiearl"]Well, I am very confused now.

....

I D/L several control programs, (Create iRobot Create TCP/Serial Interface v1.0 at http://irobotcreate.googlepages.com is my favorite) but still no CONTROL of the roomba from the program. I DO see ASCII data flowing tho.

...

I just updated Create.exe so it is now also an ActiveX Server. You can use it as an interface to writing your own programs. An example web page is also on the above web site.

JimF · Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Canada

Hi everyone,

I'm new to Roomba's and this forum but thought I might contribute what I can to this thread as I am in the same boat as uphiearl. My remanufactured Roomba Discovery will also not switch into safe or full mode. According to the documentation that came with it, it has been upgraded from the factory and should not need the OSMO ('This robot contains an electronic and software interface blah blah')… seems like this is not the case. I have tried working with two of these remanufactured units and neither of them will switch into safe or full mode. The sensor data stream works fine on both. So, buyer beware if picking up one of these remanufactured units (and there are plenty of them for sale here in Canada at the moment). Of note, they have a new bar code in the battery compartment indicating a date of manufacture of 2008 (obviously when they were refurb'ed) and so I can't tell when they were originally produced.

Cheers,

Jim

vic7767 · Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 3519 Location: Louisiana

You can determine the date of the firmware in your Roomba by performing the steps provide in this thread by Howard.

http://www.roombareview.com/chat/viewtopic.php?t=2767

JimF · Joined: 18 Sep 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Canada

Thanks for that link, turns out that the problem was me just being a bonehead with my microcontroller code :oops: . Both of the refurbished ones that I have access to will switch into safe (and full) mode without any problems via the SCI.

Cheers,

Jim