iRobot Roomba HomeKit
You can connect your Roomba vacuum cleaner to Apple HomeKit using HOOBS Homebridge Hub. Homebridge is an open-source, lightweight server that helps to bridge the gap between your devices and the HomeKit ecosystem by emulating the HomeKit API. HOOBS is a Homebridge hub. All necessary software is pre-installed. All you have to do is download the Roomba Stv plugin, fill in a few details, and then you’ll be able to control it via the Home app on your phone. Details are given below.
Steps to Integrate Roomba with HomeKit
Step 1: Open your browser. Search for HOOBS and visit their website. At the top, there’s a navigation bar. Click on “Plugins”.
Step 2: Search for “Roomba Stv”.
Step 3: Find the HOOBS-certified option. Click on “Install”.
Step 4: When it has downloaded, click on “Configuration”.
Step 5: Click on “Add Accessory”. A form will open up in which you have to fill in details.
Step 6: Get your Roomba’s IP Address. For this, on your phone open the iRobot app → settings → Wi-Fi settings → Robot Wi-Fi details → IP Address.
Step 7: Come back to the HOOBS page. Click on the 3 dots (top-right corner). Go to Terminal.
Step 8: Paste this command in the terminal → cd /home/hoobs/.hoobs/node_modules/dorita980 && npm install && node ./bin/get password.js “192.168.x.x”
Step 9: Replace the “192.168.x.x” with the IP Address of the Roomba that you obtained in Step 6.
Step 10: Hit enter and wait. Ignore the warning messages.
Step 11: Once that is done running, make sure your Roomba is on Home Base and is powered on (green lights should be on). Press the Home button and hold it till a tone is played. Release the button. The Roomba will flash the Wi-Fi light.
Step 12: Press a key. If the command runs successfully, you’ll be shown the BLID number and the password.
Step 13: Go back to the form in step 5. Fill in the name, model, BLID, password, and IP Address. The last 3 details Auto-Fresh Enabled, Enable Keep Alive, and TTL Cache, can be filled as per your preference.
Step 14: Click on “save changes”. Now, if you go to your Accessories → Unassigned, you’ll see your Roomba displayed there with its battery percentage.
Step 15: You can now control your Roomba with your HOOBS dashboard. To control it through the Home app, you need to add Homebridge to your HomeKit setup.
How to add Homebridge to HomeKit?
Open the Home app → Click on the “+” sign at the top to add a new accessory → Add Accessory → Scan the QR code on your Homebridge dashboard or the one at the bottom of your HOOBS device. A pop-up will tell you that this is not an official accessory, since this is not certified by Apple. Click on “Add Anyway” and Homebridge will get integrated with your HomeKit just like any other Hub, including all of your Homebridge accessories.
What is HOOBS?
HOOBS stands for Homebridge Out of the Box. It comes pre-installed with a simplified Homebridge OS that makes setup much easier for those people who do not have a dedicated computer to keep running Homebridge 24/7.
How to setup HOOBS?
The HOOBS box contains a setup guide having the steps for the installation process. You also get a power source and an Ethernet cable. To set up HOOBS, power it up by connecting to the included plug and micro USB cable and wait 2-3 minutes. Then connect it to your router via the Ethernet cable. If you don’t have the Ethernet cable, the device can also connect to Wi-fi.
Download the HOOBS app. It will walk you through the steps of the installation process. After the setup, visit the HOOBS web interface (their website) and set up your admin account. Both the username and password are “admin”. Now, you can start searching for plugins for your devices.
Why do we need HOOBS?
HOOBS comes pre-installed with the Homebridge OS. If you don’t use HOOBS, you’ll have to install the Homebridge software on your computer. This computer needs to be always running and connected to your home network. When it disconnects, you will lose HomeKit access to all your devices. You’ll also have to manage a bunch of code and command-line prompts if you take this route. HOOBS solves this problem. It does all the dirty work for you and gives you thousands of accessory plugins in a simple interface.
Drawbacks of This Method
Roomba works natively with Lady A and Google Home, but it does not natively work with HomeKit because HomeKit does not support a vacuum category right now. As a result, when you integrate your Roomba with HomeKit, it will appear in the Home app as a switch. A full dustbin will be shown as a contact sensor, and so will the docking status and the running status. You will also lose certain native features, like asking Siri to clean the room.
Conclusion
Now we have learnt ‘iRobot Roomba HomeKit’, HOOBS is the best purchase for you if you want to use non-HomeKit devices with your Apple HomeKit. It supports over 2000 smart devices. Using this method, you can bypass all technicalities and you need no coding knowledge. Roomba has now become a part of your Apple HomeKit ecosystem and you can control your Roomba with your phone.
- Can this method be used to connect to other devices?
Yes, HOOBS allows you to connect multiple devices with your Apple Ecosystem. They all need different plugins.
- What is an open-source platform?
It is a community-driven platform. Many people can build on the code, test it and troubleshoot it.
- What is Homebridge?
Homebridge integrates non-HomeKit devices with HomeKit. It establishes support for devices that HomeKit does not natively support by functioning like a bridge.
