Correct, full assembly, for illustration purposes. All individual STEP parts in that assembly are here github dot com remakeai/vacuum_cleaner_teardown . I took a consumer vacuum, wanted to make it 3D printed (and replace its board). I did teardown, had it converted to STEP.
I posted the teardown screenshot on Reddit, asked if anyone's interested building an open-source vacuum. Redditors said they don't want a vacuum like that because it's too basic. No self-empty dock, no mop, no obstacle avoidance, brush is too basic. People want a highly functional vacuum.
So, I had to scrap the idea, switch to building a "mid tier" vacuum.
I don't have a better design, so I kept the image and captioned it as "Reference design images - this is approximately how the finished design will look".
I hope it's ok.
No YouTube build-along - correct, not yet. I'll make one once ready. Evidence - an existing build-along for my previous robot youtube dot com watch?v=6GtjAB19GP8&list=PLOSXKDW70aR8uA1IFahSKVuk5ODDfjTZV
coalesce around a ... set of parts currently sold as a vacuum - yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. Roborock, Dreame in particular. Biggest brands have deepest aftermarket, cheapest parts.
Hi, I'm the guy behind OOMWOO. I just found this post. Let me try replying.
LLM slop - noted, acknowledged. I'm allergic to LLM slop myself. I'll rewrite the linked post tonight (and the repo over next week or two).
Hardware is an issue/expensive - respectfully, I have to push back. I've built 6+ robots (ROS2), sourced parts from China (usually AliExpress), designed/manufactured/sold robot PCBs for years. A 2D LiDAR (from old vacuums) off AliExpress costs $15 retail with free shipping to the US. It won't come in a nice retail box, just bubblewrap. Proof - open aliexpress dot us/item/3256807153970373.html. Buying 10 pcs gets me $9/ea. A pair of driving wheel assemblies I just sourced for OOMWOO (wheels, motors, wheels, tires, wheel drop sensors, cabling with connector fit Roborock S4/5/45/50/51/52/55 Max, S7/Pro/MaxV, E4/E5/45/50/55, G10, T7S/S+, S6/60/65 Pure/MaxV, S70/75, Q5/7) cost $24-$33 (the entire pair). Proof aliexpress dot us/item/3256811615892849.html $22.19 + free shipping today. I've just source fans - 10kPa $10 free shipping Dreame aliexpress dot us/item/3256810170666194.html.
I've visited vacuum cleaner robot ODMs in China. In 1000 MoQ prices drop to a fraction of the retail above. I'd like to build a large community to (someday) get the pricing power, level up from ordering off AliExpress.
Repo is just text - yes, 3 weeks old, out-of-the-box software development environment (Docker ROS2 based) is in another repo github dot com makerspet oomwoo-install, step-by-step tutorials on makerspet dot com /learn. Pull image, paste CLI commands and simulate OOMWOO in 15 minutes. ROS2 robot description page is another repo makerspet oomwoo-one The PCB will be in yet another repo makerspet oomwoo-io-board, I'll publish it shortly. Open source vac reference 3D design (I did a consumer vac teardown, got it converted to STEP) is remakeai / vacuum_cleaner_teardown .
3D design not available - correct, not yet. I've got to source parts first. That said, no need to wait. I've hacked an existing consumer vac, connected it to ROS2, practically full control. So, you can develop OOMWOO software, test it on a real vac - while 3D design comes together. That vac setup is included in the oomwoo-install image. Repo - remakeai / vacuum_ros2_bridge. I've written step-by-step tutorials (both physical bringup and Gazebo/ROS2 sim) on makerspet dot com / learn
Why they didnt use Valetudo - I'm a big fan of Valetudo, Dennis Giese, robotinfo dot dev. I hacked my Dreame L10S and it runs Valetudo. I'd like OOMWOO to be local, no-cloud-require like Valetudo. Valetudo cuts the cloud, doesn't give full direct control (sometimes partial) of vac's motors/sensors/encoders/LiDAR. Example - to fix my vac's SLAM, I need to rip out stock firmware, replace with mine. Not possible with Valetudo.
Is the point to make a product or not - I'd like to make a product, but not 1st version. I have 6 vacuum robots (all with LiDAR, some expensive), all have problems - pet hair tangling, getting stuck under the bed, stuck on ramp, getting lost, mopping same spot over and over again, chewing up cables, doesn't vacuum under furniture with loose cover (can get under the cover easily, but won't). I'm tired of that, I want to fix those.
Is this a one person project, vibe coding - I'm a solo tech founder in California with Upwork freelancer team and Claude Code. One freelancer for PCB, one 3D design (he 3D scanned consumer vac teardown into STEP that I just open sourced). One has made Unity sim to batch-generate 2D LiDAR data to train object recognition for OOMWOO. One developed/trained ML recognition to recognize 2D LiDAR point clouds. Two (sourcing/PM) team members in China when I visited.
Will it be able to take out trash, chat with me by voice - Yes! Just not 1st version. I want OOMWOO to run apps someday - patrol home for security, move things around (wheeled carts with trash/pizza). Let enthusiasts bolt on LeRobot arm(s).
I wish to participate - please join the Discord, invite discord dot gg/3y2JKz5T25 You are most welcome! Half a dozen requests for contribution are ready and waiting.
Apps for robots - home vacuums, quadrupeds, drones, humanoids, etc. Think Apple remaking ordinary phones into smartphones with apps & app store - only for robots.
I'm super productive away in a hotel!! And not productive at home (everyone wants my attention).
Cost is important, but #1 is getting things done.
Training for 2 weeks - I keep it to 5 days, yes it is enough. They are already full stack (this is a full stack engineer job) pros. Obviously, they don't know everything - in that case I tell them: "Ask Claude/Claude Code; if Claude/Claude Code does not help you, ask me."
I give them a relatively small piece of work and see if they sink or swim situation. Some people step up. I want to work with these people.
I wish I could clone myself - and I now, I think I can, thanks to AI agents. Let me hack a clone agent right now.
I agree, it's a sacrifice. Yes, I've traveled a lot. I'm an ex-executive.
I'm 53, two kids (one grown up), no pressure to build a family. On the other hand, even when I was younger, my family would not see me anyway (except weekends).
I frame it like this: I've got to do whatever it takes to take the startup through this most difficult period.
Apps for robots - home vacuums, quadrupeds, drones, humanoids, etc. Think Apple remaking ordinary phones into smartphones with apps & app store - only for robots.
I posted the teardown screenshot on Reddit, asked if anyone's interested building an open-source vacuum. Redditors said they don't want a vacuum like that because it's too basic. No self-empty dock, no mop, no obstacle avoidance, brush is too basic. People want a highly functional vacuum.
So, I had to scrap the idea, switch to building a "mid tier" vacuum.
I don't have a better design, so I kept the image and captioned it as "Reference design images - this is approximately how the finished design will look".
I hope it's ok.
No YouTube build-along - correct, not yet. I'll make one once ready. Evidence - an existing build-along for my previous robot youtube dot com watch?v=6GtjAB19GP8&list=PLOSXKDW70aR8uA1IFahSKVuk5ODDfjTZV