iRobot's Roomba is the iconic robot vacuum cleaner - but it leads a double life, moonlighting in STEM education. The company has just launched Create 2, an updated model for those interested in hacking robot behavior.

As the video below explains, the Create 2 is based on re-manufactured 600 series Roombas stripped of their brushes and other floor cleaning paraphernalia. Instead you are left with its ability to move and to detect edges, plus automatic docking when it needs to recharge. 

Priced at $199.99, Create 2 gives students and developers the opportunity to program behaviors, sounds, movements and add additional electronics. It can be programmed with the supplied communications cable or you can connect an Arduino or Raspberry Pi. 

iRobot has also documented some starter projects including: 

• "DJ Create 2" – a roaming, robotic DJ that allows for easy control of music through a Bluetooth enabled mobile device
  
  
• "LightBot" – which uses a light painting tutorial to create LED images 

For those who want to make hardware modifications there are also 3D printable files for new parts and a faceplate drilling template for safely mounting additional components. 

As iRobot's CEO points out:

Robots have a cool factor unlike any other learning tool.

and he hopes that the Create 2 will

ignite students' passion for STEM-related careers through the excitement of robots.

iRobot is also the organizer of National Robotics Week, which will be held April 4-12, 2015. promising opportunities for students and educators to learn about robotics through a variety of events across all 50 states in the USA.

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