Architecture

Architecture:

The Roomba is disc shaped and “34 cm in diameter, and less than 9 cm high fabricated primarily out of plastic”. Internally, it is comprised of brushes that are connected to an internal vacuum system with which it picks up debris—the airflow from the vacuum “directs the airflow through a narrow slit to increase its speed in order to collect fine dust.” There are also side bristles which are located on the exterior of the device that reach around walls and tight spaces not accessible by the main brushes. Finally, there is the main drive system made up of two internally-housed wheels powered by a charger. 

With a physical start button on the top of the Roomba, users can start it by pushing the button, or by turning it on in the app from their phone. Sensors located around the circumference of the device detect walls, drop offs, and other barriers that allow the Roomba to navigate its environment and avoid falling down stairs or getting stuck in small spaces. 

The Roomba’s role is simple; to clean. More specifically, it cleans without having to be directed by a human, and is designed so that all the user has to do is charge the Roomba, turn it on (via their phone), and leave while the robot cleans their house. It moves by two electrically-powered wheels and a rear steering cam. The bristles move side to side, while being propelled forward. There is a process that it uses in order to work, as aforementioned, you have to charge it in order for it to work, as well as you have to place it on a somewhat flat surface in order for it to work. Roomba’s batteries are rechargeable, and this 960 version can automatically return to the home base to recharge resume cleaning as needed up to every 75 mins.

In this 960 version, Roomba has moved away from random cleaning to a much more intelligent approach called VSLAM (Vision Simultaneous Localization and Mapping). Using onboard, infrared cameras to take snapshots of the room, the Roomba over time builds up a picture of the room, giving it a better idea of where it is, and where it needs to go. 

The people that usually use this technology are people who don’t have the time to clean their own homes, older people who cannot move or carry a vacuum, parents who might not have the time to clean and use a usual vacuum all the time, and people on the go. They use it by putting it on the area they want cleaned, pressing start, and are able to leave the room, or continue about their day without having to worry about it. Users need the basic skills of being able to press a start button, as well as the ability to take apart the debris carrier, and dump it out occasionally, which the manual shows you how to do, and it is easy for anyone to do it. It builds upon the traditional vacuum as it uses the same concept of picking up debris, but is not large enough to contain a lot of debris, meaning that it will have to be emptied often. It shapes social relations simply in the way it allows you to go about your day, and not worry or have to bother with taking time out of your day to work, socialize, ect to clean. It improves people’s ability to do other things and go about their life.

 

*Those pictures present the inside and outside components of 900 level series iRobot Roomba.

 

Important Components of The Roomba:

The Roomba Side Brush

The Side Brush uses its bristles to reach edges and corners of your home to remove debris and dirt. These brushes move in a 360 degree motion to collect the most dirt within the area.

 

The Enhanced Cleaning Head

The cleaning head, placed right in the middle of the Roomba, collects large climbs of hair, and is also designed to pick up even the tiniest pieces of dust. This debris is then stored in the VacuBin, for the user to empty later on.

 

The AeroForce High-Efficiency Filter

These state-of-the-art filters collect up to 99% of allergens and particles, making sure your home is being as thoroughly cleaned as possible. Once these filters have been used, the app within your phone allows for you to get a notification, telling you to change the filter.

AeroVac Bin

The AeroVac Bin collects all of the dirt and debris your Roomba picks up. Once full, all the user needs to do is slide the canister out, dump the dirt, and slide it back in, where it can start again.

 

Front Caster Wheel

The caster wheel allows for the Roomba to move seamlessly in a 360 degree design. These wheels also allow for the Roomba to go onto any floor surface, be that wood or tile floors, or even carpets and rugs, and still ensure a thorough clean.

 

The Home Base

The home base of the Roomba is not only its charger, but its central place that it returns to after cleaning, without the user having to lift a finger.

 

 

 

Roomba Home App

The application that Roomba uses allows you to schedule times in which you want you Roomba to clean, the ability to turn it on from anywhere at any time, and also gives you updates on maintenance your Roomba needs, in addition to a notification of when it has completed its job.

 

 

 

 

 

References:

“Roomba.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 22 Jan. 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roomba.

“Simple Mapping and Path Planning with Roomba”, Olson, John; Kirillov, Ivan; Sweeny, John, College of Computing Georgia Tech,

Glass, Nick, and Matthew Ponsford. “The Secret Military Technology inside the Household Vacuum Robot.” CNN, Cable News Network, 31 Mar. 2014, www.cnn.com/2014/03/31/tech/innovation/the-secret-military-technology-roomba-vacuum/index.html.

http://store.irobot.com/default/parts-and-accessories/roomba-accessories/600-series/?prefn1=productAgentOnly&sz=12&start=0&prefv1=false