Troubled robot vacuum-cleaner maker iRobot, abandoned by Amazon after regulators effectively doomed the web giant’s takeover offer, has warned investors it may not survive the next 12 months.

  • @[email protected]
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    7912 hours ago

    (I know I didn’t contribute shit & just complain but) … isn’t it a bit weird how after all this time there arent any good open sauce diy robot kits?

    Like, materials, sensors, brushes, filters, batteries, etc are all cheaply available, a basic board could literally be just cut plywood with the rest is the things mounted on top (who even needs a cover?). And ofc one could mount various weapons mod on it.

    • @mx_smith
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      155 minutes ago

      Didn’t iRobot put out a DIY robot/vacuum that you could assemble how you wanted?

    • Bobby Turkalino
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      63 hours ago

      I love DIY tech projects and yet I would never go through the effort to make a robot vacuum because vacuuming is already the easiest chore in the house. You kinda just stand there and go swoop swoop swoop a few times. Takes like 3 minutes to do an entire room. As opposed to listening to the robot vacuum rumble around for an hour and do a half ass job, if it even finishes without getting spooked by a shadow thinking it’s a 100ft cliff

      • @[email protected]
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        23 hours ago

        Yes, we all need to manage our lives & our shortcomings.
        I like vacuum cleaning chore too, but can have periods when my brainhole just won’t register the todo.

      • thermal_shock
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        13 hours ago

        Got a good deal on a Roomba, I have a shark with HEPA filter and all, very good vacuum. I can vacuum, then let the Roomba run, and it still finds shit. I like it, especially for pet hair. Only thing I don’t like is it’s random pattern, mine doesn’t map the room, refuse to get one with a camera.

      • @[email protected]
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        88 hours ago

        “for a lot of models” is a bit of an exaggeration. Especially as Xiaomi/Dreame try to actively restrict Valetudo use.

        But yes, Valetudo is a great project. I’d just wish there was a manufacturer who would openly endorse it.

        • @plenipotentprotogod
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          37 hours ago

          I’ve wondered before how large an order would be required to entice a white label manufacturer of robot vacuums into doing a production run of units with Valetudo preinstalled.

          I would absolutely buy one if someone could work out a fair business arrangement with the developer and throw the project up on kickstarter.

      • @[email protected]
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        11 hours ago

        Oh fuck, I’m gonna I might test this.
        I’ve never heard of it before, but the more I read the more I like it.

        Thx!

        • @[email protected]
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          109 hours ago

          I have it on a Roborock S5 and it works great, so much more stable than the original firmware that requires an internet connection.

          Certain models can be harder to root though, so read through the description and guide thoroughly first.

    • Rhaedas
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      159 hours ago

      Popular Science had an “open source” robot lawnmower plans in the…80s? I have it somewhere. Old enough that it used deep cycle lead-acid batteries and spinning round dremel blades. No laser to cut the grass, although it did use LEDs for sensors for grass height.

    • WIZARD POPE💫
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      1812 hours ago

      Go ahead and make one then. Nobody is stopping you from being the first.

    • @Tattorack
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      510 hours ago

      What about LEGO Mindstorms? Does that count?

    • @cyd
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      510 hours ago

      I mean, I don’t demand an open source washing machine or dryer either.

      • @[email protected]
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        3 hours ago

        Ok, but that would be amazing.

        Imagine the ability to actually define your own cycles.

        Tho how most are built, that shouldn’t be that hard with a little arduino.