roombactl

Sends commands to a Roomba device using the Open Interface specification.

Usage

usage: roombactl -d device [-cprtv] [-l led] [-s schedule]

	-d /dev/ttyUSB0
	-c (clean) -p (poweroff) -r (reset) -t (set time) -v (verbose)
	-l [check,dock,spot,debris,colour:[0-255],intensity:[0-255]]
	-s [day:HH:MM[,day:HH:MM]...]

Options

-c Initiate immediate clean. Equivalent to pressing the "clean" button.

-d Specify the device used for serial communications. Must be specified before other options. If -d is not specified, the ROOMBA_DEVICE environment variable will be used if present.

-l Set LED state. The tokens 'check', 'dock', 'spot' and 'debris' will light the corresponding LED. The tokens 'colour:N' and 'intensity:M' will set the centre LED to the colour and intensity specified by N and M. Passing -l an empty string will reset all LEDs to off.

-p Power off.

-t Set time.

-s Set cleaning schedule. Takes a comma separated list of day:HH:MM tokens to start cleaning on that day and time, in 24 hour format. Use of this option will automatically set the time.

-v Verbose.

Examples

Enable scheduled cleaning on Tuesday and Friday at 2pm.

roobactl -d /dev/ttyUSB0 -s tue:14:00,fri:14:00

Initiate immediate clean.

export ROOMBA_DEVICE=/dev/ttyUSB0
roombactl -c

History

I bought Roomba 530 devices knowing they had scheduling hardware but not having an interface to enable it. I looked at the existing software which seemed quite featureful, but the instructions started with "Install this Java SDK" which seemed a little heavyweight for sending a handful of specific bytes to a serial port.

References

• Rooba 530 scheduling
• Roomba Open Interface spec
• RooStick USB serial interface This is the USB serial adapter that I use, but it has since been discontinued.