Overall Information
The goal of this project is to allow remote operation of a iRobot Create robot through a wireless router. The robot will have a webcam attached to it and the video feed will be published to the client computer. This will allow the user to navigate the robot around obstacles and from other rooms.

Requirements
  1. Mount a webcam and laptop on an existing robot. We will use an iRobot Create.
  2. Connect the webcam and Create to the computer via serial connections.
  3. Develop an application for the laptop that takes the webcam input and controls the Create.
  4. Develop a client application that connects to the (server) laptop over a wireless internet router. This application will display the camera feed and allow the user to control the Create.
  5. Develop a psuedo-language used to send commands from the client computer to the server where it will be translated and executed.
  6. Research and propose possible extensions to the project.
Future Expansion
While researching the Roomba vacuums online, I found a Bluetooth device that is spcifically designed to interface with Roomba vacuums. With possible expansion on this project, perhaps this device (called RooTooth) could be incorporated to allow the Roomba to operate with only the webcam mounted on it transfer the video feed to another computer via Bluetooth which would then control the vacuum movement and publish the video feed online. However, I am unsure if the RooTooth device allows users to control the movement of the Roomba or if it is just used to transfer data back and fourth.
Other furute expansions are listed in the presentation that accompanies the project. You can download this presentation from the Project Demo page.