Valetudo VS WLED

If you really want zero network theres always Valetudo, https://valetudo.cloud/

But most of the vacuums want internet access for setup, but then work completely fine being blocked from the internet after.

FYI there is https://github.com/Hypfer/Valetudo which acts as a replacement of the cloud service. I'd you buy one of the supported devices you root it to point to the Valetudo server (which you run yourselves). You can then put the robot on its own WiFi without Internet access if you want to be even more secure.

I'll be the one to plug Valetudo in this thread I guess. Primitively, it replaces the cloud functionality on-device for robot vacuums (see supported models) and replaces it with local services that run offline and can connect to Home Assistant easily.

I will never buy another robot vacuum without Valetudo support as long as that project lives. It's great.

https://valetudo.cloud/

As a consumer and homeowner I try my hardest to buy "smart" things that only have local control, especially for important systems like power and HVAC. Our standby generator has a manufacturer supplied wifi pod that I never set up. Instead I use an RS485-to-USB dongle and monitor it myself with open source software. Our HVAC is the same to the greatest extent possible. When shopping for a new robot vacuum Valetudo[1] compatibility is an overriding concern.

If/when we have solar installed it will not be connected to the manufacturer or distributor's cloud systems.

[1]: https://valetudo.cloud

I have a roborock that I have taken apart a little bit and I thought it looked extremely similar to the article's Roomba from underneath.

Obligatory mention for every robot vacuum article: https://valetudo.cloud/

There are local-only robot vacuum options: https://valetudo.cloud/

But you shouldn't ask yourself why it isn't possible. The question is why it's not successful, or why there's no demand. America is satisfied by foreign alternatives. We don't want secure devices, we want cheap and simple devices that come in pretty boxes with the labels we like. Roomba wins because it caters to the lowest-common-denominator, the basest American that most shoppers embody.

And America doesn't care. You won't see a law demanding software transparency or firmware alternatives for domestic robots. We won't assemble them locally because our labor is too expensive, we won't manufacture the chips domestically because it's cheaper to import them. You won't see people owning USA-made Roombas for the same reason you don't meet people using a Purism phone instead of a Samsung/Apple handset; the market has spoken, and they are absolutely apathetic to anything but price.

Perhaps contact somebody from the Valetudo community with your problem:

https://valetudo.cloud/

https://www.reddit.com/r/homeautomation/

Maybe it can be solved with a simple firmware patch.

https://valetudo.cloud is a project which allows you to use many vacuums without connecting to the cloud.

https://kno.wled.ge/

Many 'effects' already prepackaged. Plus the ability to schedule time based changes (on/off/change pattern/etc.). Includes a web server to provide "app like" control over a phone or PC. Also includes integrations for several "home control" systems and a http API for programmatic control from another system. Can even synchronize plural controllers into a whole 'net' (note, I've not used this feature yet).

Small ESP32 boards (with wifi capability) such as this example (no affiliation, just an example that works):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09Y8X1GK7

WS2811 LED strings [1] (of which there are an infinite variety) suitable for outdoor use. One example (no affiliation):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CYZF1WCR

Suitable power supplies, outdoor weather sealed boxes, and wiring (all left to you to locate).

Willingness to assemble the pieces and some time to do so. Having a soldering iron is helpful here, although one could possibly get by with screw terminal blocks inside weatherproof boxes if need be for many of the 'connections'.

[1] Or other 'programmable LED' strings for which WLED is compatible (it works with numerous different programmable LED standards, browse the WLED website for details).

I think you're one of todays lucky 10000 [0] learning about WLED [1] today :)

[0] https://xkcd.com/1053/

[1] https://kno.wled.ge/

I’ll do you one better: Here is the WLED main site - they cover everything - however you want it for your vehicle is up to you! (If you want to see a truck I personally worked (with 2 other main guys doing the woodwork and wiring) on that was probably the “most expensive” project with these controllers, check out the SEMA entered “Realtree Stormtrooper truck” - a LOT of time went in to that and almost a year of prep, not a fan myself, but custom electronics are what I like doing)

Did you use the esp32.bin? If so, you should instead use ESP32-C3 here: https://github.com/Aircoookie/WLED/releases/download/v0.14.0/WLED_0.14.0_ESP32-C3.bin

Friend replaced all his govee cintrollers with WLED.

Multiple WLED controllers