It’s been a while since I’ve written an update to this project, and there have been a number of developments; so it’s about time. I now have a couple revision “B” boards deployed, also with new, more efficient firmware. I haven’t been running the new boards or the new firmware long enough to really tell how much better they are performing, but it ought to be significant. The big power draws are the LEDs, and they are now enabled far less frequently. For the interested, all the new info is up on my GitHub project page. Although, I was pretty sure I updated the ReadMe, but I’m not seeing the changes at the moment. I’ll have to check and make sure I committed them. But really, the important changes are:
- I have, since rev “A”, build a new AVR ISP tool that I use to program my boards. (GitHub or OSH Park) This makes programming the rev B board much easier, since you don’t actually solder the ISP header onto the rev B board; you just “wedge” the pins into the vias during programming.
- … I guess that was it. I thought there was more than one, but I can’t remember it now. Perhaps it was unimportant.
Next up, I have a revision “D” board coming which uses the SSOP8 package of the ATTiny45 and is smaller, even, than this board. For those keeping score, yes, there is a “C” board–it uses a SOIC8 ATTiny, and I realized, before ordering the board, that it was the wrong footprint for the part I had ordered. But I liked the design, so I kept it and made revision “D” instead.
I looked around and could not find the version of roomba you have? I have the latest version Roomba 980 and would love to try out your project. Would my Roomba be compatible with your project?
Thanks,
Jim
I have a 650, but I’m certain the IR protocols have not changed. (Plus, considering both are still for sale at the same time.) Looking at the pictures of the 980, it has the IR sensor the Roombas use to find their home bases and avoid virtual walls. I’d love to hear about how it works for you. If it doesn’t work quite right, let me know, and we can experiment with it maybe. Also, if you build it before I update the firmware: I have reduced the delay at the end of the main loop to 50000, and it seems to work better. I made the delay larger to try to improve battery life. 🙂
Thanks for reading!
Peter
Good morning,
I ordered roomba virtual Wall v2 rev.2 I wanted to program ATTiny85 chips with a universal TL866 programmer.
What files should I use?
Thank you
Hi! The source code for the firmware is in the “firmware” subdirectory. If you have GNU Make and AVR-GCC (and AVR glibc) installed on your development machine, running the “make” command from that directory will generate a *.hex file that you can program with your programmer of choice. (This process works on Mac, Raspberry Pi, Windows and Windows with WSL–I’ve done it on all.) I hope that helps!
Hi, I’m not practical I can not generate the * .hex file.
You can not help me and send me the .Hex file in email.
Thank you.