iRobot Create is a hobbyist robot manufactured by iRobot that was introduced in 2007 and based on their Roombavacuum cleaning platform. The iRobot Create is explicitly designed for robotics development and improves the experience beyond simply hacking the Roomba. The Create replaces its Roomba predecessor's vacuum cleaner hardware with a cargo bay that also houses a DB-9 port providing serial communication, digital input & output, analog input & output, and an electric power supply. The Create also has a 7-pin Mini-DIN serial port through which sensor data can be read and motor commands can be issued using the iRobot Roomba Open Interface protocol. The platform accepts virtually all accessories designed for iRobot's second generation Roomba 400 Seriesdomestic robots and can also be programmed with the addition of iRobot's own Command Module., the Command Module is no longer being sold. In 2014, iRobot replaced the original model with the Create 2, which is constructed from the chassis of remanufactured 600-series Roombas; instead of replacing the old command module, iRobot encourages the use of commodity single-board computers like Arduino and Raspberry Pi to provide additional processing power.
Controller
Due to the limitations in storage space and processing power of the iRobot Command Module, many choose to utilize an external computer in controlling the Create robot. Since the built-in serial port supports the transmission of sensor data and can receive actuation commands, any embedded computer that supports serial communication can be used as the control computer. A number of robot interface server / simulators support the iRobot Create. Most notably, the Player Project has long included a device interface for the Roomba, and developed a Create interface in Player 2.1. The Universal Real-time Behavior Interface environment also contains a Create interface. The Microsoft Robotics Studio and the Webots simulation environment contain iRobot Create models.
Community
The iRobot Create is popular in the robotic research and hobbyist community. Some examples of iRobot create projects:
Combining the iRobot Create with an Xbox Kinect, student Philipp Robbel created a 3D mapping robot.
Competition
In 2007 iRobot hosted the "Create Challenge", offering with the goal of creating an "innovative robot that's functional, helpful, entertaining, whimsical or simply amazing". The winner was Danh Trinh, with their "Personal Home Robot" which "reminds owners to take their medication, turns lights on and off, and controls appliances."
