My new vacuum came with source code

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
I just picked up a Neato XV-21 (http://www.amazon.com/Neato-XV-21-Al.../dp/B007JOJ9QQ).

As with most products these days, it came with user a manual on a CD. That CD also contains a directly called "LinuxSrc" which contains the source code and build scripts for the vacuum's firmware.

They also have a command interface so you can interact with the robot over USB.
http://www.neatorobotics.com/programmers-manual/table-of-robot-application-commands/

I'm very impressed. I hope more companies do this sort of thing.
 

lxskllr

No Lifer
Nov 30, 2004
60,000
10,485
126
Very cool. When are you gonna start hacking? You can add a routine that identifies, and chases cats :^D
 

Uppsala9496

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 2001
5,272
19
81
It's a great vacuum. I've been using mine sine Christmas. Amazing the dirt it picks up.
Only complaint is the roller brush can get torn up a bit if it vacuums things like twist ties.
My kid leaves random crap like small ribbons on the floor now and again.

Overall the best vacuum I have owned. I schedule it to run when I am at work.
 

manimal

Lifer
Mar 30, 2007
13,559
8
0
came with one of these?

Source-Code1.jpg


Wonder what alternate universe its from
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
I have a Roomba 400 series downstairs. I got this for upstairs. I have a feeling I'll be buying a second one pretty soon to replace my downstairs Roomba.
 

wirednuts

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2007
7,121
4
0
ok I got dibs on the first internet enabled dildo that does live streaming and smart adaptive memory that learns how you get off the best and can replicate and perfect its actions accordingly. all data can be tracked by your viewers online, as well as live video of course.
 

Broheim

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2011
4,587
3
81
now I want one just to tinker with.

pretty cool they give you that level of control.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
70,547
13,796
126
www.anyf.ca
That's awesome! Would be fun to mess around with that. Wonder if it has auxiliary control points too.

Could build a custom arm with extra suction point so you could vacuum furniture remotely. :D Imagine being able to clean your house from work. (and torment the cat lol)
 

Murloc

Diamond Member
Jun 24, 2008
5,382
65
91
neat, it looks more advanced than roomba or the aldi profimaster knock-off. It also costs more.

I always have doubts about their efficacy though, or maybe it's my cats who are dirty pigs.
 

W.C. Nimoy

Senior member
Apr 7, 2013
356
0
0
Whoa that really IS neato LOL!

Is it relatively well built, powerful enough etc. for the intended purpose you had in mind for it? Either way, for the price (only $336?!) it's hard to believe windsor can get away with charging $530 for their s12, which weighs TWICE as much at 18lb vs. 9lb, is just as loud at 69db, & doesn't even operate itself! Idk about performance etc. I mean end of the day it's a vacuum, they all pretty much get the dirt up.


DORKY (lol)-
a439yo.jpg


compared to THIS (cool)...
2jbsgax.jpg

With every new improvement on existing products that "sucked" before (lol), the more I am convinced... the future is AWESOME!

http://www.shopforcleaningsupplies.com/Windsor_Sensor_S_12_p/1.012-021.0.htm
lol I feel stupid. I need a neato.
:(
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
neat, it looks more advanced than roomba or the aldi profimaster knock-off. It also costs more.

I always have doubts about their efficacy though, or maybe it's my cats who are dirty pigs.

you can see that it looks like it misses alot because it needs room to turn around.

i think it might still be cool for people who hate to clean (me) and let this get most of the stuff and then all you have to do is go over the spots it misses.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
Whoa that really IS neato LOL!

Is it relatively well built, powerful enough etc. for the intended purpose you had in mind for it? Either way, for the price (only $336?!) it's hard to believe windsor can get away with charging $530 for their s12, which weighs TWICE as much at 18lb vs. 9lb, is just as loud at 69db, & doesn't even operate itself! Idk about performance etc. I mean end of the day it's a vacuum, they all pretty much get the dirt up.


DORKY (lol)-
a439yo.jpg


compared to THIS (cool)...
2jbsgax.jpg

With every new improvement on existing products that "sucked" before (lol), the more I am convinced... the future is AWESOME!

http://www.shopforcleaningsupplies.com/Windsor_Sensor_S_12_p/1.012-021.0.htm
lol I feel stupid. I need a neato.
:(

why did you buy a vacuum intended for hotels? if they all "just get the dirt up" why didn't you get a cheaper model?
 

W.C. Nimoy

Senior member
Apr 7, 2013
356
0
0
why did you buy a vacuum intended for hotels? if they all "just get the dirt up" why didn't you get a cheaper model?

I know, don't rub it in. Even if I wasn't going to get an automated robotic one like OP's, for less, even one of the cheap hoovers/bissel's or something at walmart would have been the same damn thing.

:oops:
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
you can see that it looks like it misses alot because it needs room to turn around.

i think it might still be cool for people who hate to clean (me) and let this get most of the stuff and then all you have to do is go over the spots it misses.

It's actually pretty decent. Since the front is square, it's better at getting into the corners than the Roomba. It also does a pretty decent job at full coverage since it knows where it has been before. It seems to do overlapping passes, so most spots get two passes.

My biggest complaint so far is that the battery life is awful. It can barely do a 12x12 bedroom before it has go recharge. The good news is that it will recharge and resume where it left off, but it only does that 3 times. As a result, it takes nearly 3 hours to vacuum 4 bedrooms and small hallway. I find that a bit disappointing, but I'll be scheduling it to run while I'm not at home so its not a huge deal.

My Roomba would bump around randomly for about 1.5 hours before needing to recharge. It would probably get into all 4 bedrooms and generally hit all the spots, but it didn't get full coverage every time and I didn't like how it constantly bumped into all my furniture.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
My other complaint is that it has a tendency to get itself stuck under some of my furniture.

The laser scanner on top is about 1cm higher than the rest of the body, including the front bump sensor. If you have furniture taller than the bump sensor, but lower than the laser scanner, it can get itself stuck. I'll need to find a way to raise the bump sensor to be the same height as the laser without blocking the laser.
 

pontifex

Lifer
Dec 5, 2000
43,804
46
91
It's actually pretty decent. Since the front is square, it's better at getting into the corners than the Roomba. It also does a pretty decent job at full coverage since it knows where it has been before. It seems to do overlapping passes, so most spots get two passes.

My biggest complaint so far is that the battery life is awful. It can barely do a 12x12 bedroom before it has go recharge. The good news is that it will recharge and resume where it left off, but it only does that 3 times. As a result, it takes nearly 3 hours to vacuum 4 bedrooms and small hallway. I find that a bit disappointing, but I'll be scheduling it to run while I'm not at home so its not a huge deal.

My Roomba would bump around randomly for about 1.5 hours before needing to recharge. It would probably get into all 4 bedrooms and generally hit all the spots, but it didn't get full coverage every time and I didn't like how it constantly bumped into all my furniture.

damn that sucks about the battery life.
 

db

Lifer
Dec 6, 1999
10,575
292
126
Newer Roombas are hackable and can be remote controlled. They also sell one without the vacuum motor that is specifically made for robotics development.
 

Leros

Lifer
Jul 11, 2004
21,867
7
81
damn that sucks about the battery life.

Yeah, I almost wonder if I'm doing something wrong.

I have mid-pile carpeting and I'm using the bristled pet brush. It seems to expend a decent amount of energy just moving around. I've seen some mods where people put a furniture slider pad underneath the Neato so it has an easier time moving around. I may have to try that.

It does have MUCH more suction power than my Roomba. The Roomba just cleaned the surface, this does more of a deep cleaning. Not as great as my normal vacuum, but pretty good for a small battery powered machine.

Edit: Hmm... did some Googling. It looks like Neato may have purchased a bad batch of battery packs. Most people are reporting run times of around 60 minutes. I get about 15 minutes. Apparently, Neato is sending replacement batteries to users who complain about it being a problem.
 
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