iRobot Create Serial Cable for Turtlebot I

Question

I need an iRobot Create Serial Cable (one end 7-pin Mini-DIN Connector and the other end is USB) for Turtlebot I. How can I connect my bot to my PC?

Answer 1

The iRobot Create and Roomba may have a rather unusual 7-pin mini-din socket for their serial interface, but it is otherwise a fairly standard 5v serial port.

Since the original iRobot Create cable no longer seems to be available, if you already have a USB serial adapter and don't want to buy the new iRobot Create 2 cable, then you may want to make your own RS232 iRobot Create cable.

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It is fairly easy to create your own serial to roomba adapter with a standard RS232 cable, an 8-pin mini-din cable (the middle pin is just ignored), a MAX232 RS-232 transceiver IC, a 78L05 voltage regulator, an LED, a resistor and a few capacitors.

You can connect it all together with a small piece of prototyping board, and some basic electronics tools.

Once you have your Roomba serial to RS-232 cable, you just need to add a standard off the shelf USB to RS-232 adapter/cable to complete your connection.

Answer 2

The new Create2 cable should work with old Creates and all versions of Roomba. You can purchase one at the iRobot web store. And here are instructions how to make a cable yourself using an FTDI serial to USB converter.

Please also see www.irobot.com/create for more Roomba and Create hacks.