Matze
I'm thinking about buying a robo #vacuum. For sure i don't want it to contact manufacturer servers (privacy/dependency). ... i don't have to explain you probably.

I discovered the project #valetudo. Sounds really good. Does someone have experience how good it rooting device and afterwards using it works and give some tipps what to do?

https://valetudo.cloud/
Valetudo - Valetudo

Cloud replacement for vacuum robots enabling local-only operation

May 23 at 9:38amWeb
Show threadNiklas    May 23

@matze I've been using valetudo for a couple of months now. It's a great piece of software, so far no issues.

What I would recommend though is to *very* carefully read the instructions and caveats before buying a robot. There are some potential pitfalls, and the steps vary a lot by model.

I'm using this one: https://valetudo.cloud/pages/general/supported-robots/#l10s-pro-ultra-heat

One downside is that there is no community to ask for help, because the creator of Valetudo explicitly does not want that. Instead there are some telegram chats run by him, where you can ask for help, and he's a bit trigger-happy with banning people if he does not like the way questions are asked.

Supported Robots - Valetudo

Cloud replacement for vacuum robots enabling local-only operation

Show threadMatzeMay 23
@nilclass ok, thx yeah i will read it very carefully. I thougt ab out buying dreame X40 Ultra. It should be supperted very well.

Ok thats strange that he does not want to have a community. So he basically wants to control everything.
Show threadtokudanMay 23
@matze rooting depends on the device.
Using is great, if you’re willing to use the local website or e.g. homeassistant. Keep in mind that valetudo may support less options than the app of the manufacturer. Also figure out how to block the robot from connecting to the internet. Valetudo is a firmware addon that replaces the vendor cloud, not a replacement firmware.
Show threadMatzeMay 23
@tokudan
Yeah, i plan to use a local website on my home server.
I will put the robot in a separated wlan which has no access to internet (where also my printer is).

I never had another robo, so i don't know any special features. The only thing what i want is, that it cleans automatically my flat. ^^
Show threadtokudanMay 23

@matze "local website" = valetudo on the robot.
You can set timers in valetudo. timers use UTC, so if you want them to follow DST you need to reset them twice a year. Or use MQTT / Home Assistant to control it.
My robot (Dreame Z10 Pro) works well with valetudo and I pretty much just have to clean it once a week and do the regular maintenance.

Special features might include stuff like detecting and dealing with obstacles (socks?) or maybe animal leftovers that might be distributed around.