iRobot Create 3

Was ~$299–$449

Discontinued · used/leftover onlyPython from a laptopRoomba baseROS 2 nativePython SDKNo camera

Possibly ≤ 1 weekShipping: Leftover stock only.

Remote control: Python on a laptop drives it directly with the irobot-edu-sdk over Bluetooth, or ROS 2 nodes on any host on the same Wi-Fi network see its topics natively.

LEARN MORE (Docs) ↗

Overview

The educational Roomba that became the base of TurtleBot 4, a ROS 2 robot straight out of the box with docking, bump and cliff sensing, and a mounting faceplate for a Pi and camera. There is no camera, so vision needs an add-on. iRobot paused everything except floor cleaners in 2024 and later went through Chapter 11 and a sale, so supply is winding down and the official store link is dead.

Type: Wheeled robot · Laptop is the brain
Maker: iRobot (USA)
Released: 2021
Price: Was ~$299–$449
Status: Discontinued · used/leftover only
Best for: Ages 12+
Programming: Full SDK

Price and shipping

Launched at $299. Later listed around $449 at resellers such as Adafruit (now marked as no longer stocked).

Shipping: Leftover stock only. Official sales channels are down. A few resellers and eBay sellers still list units, often above the original price.

Specifications

Category	Wheeled rovers · Laptop is the brain
Released	2021
Country	USA
Availability	Discontinued · used/leftover only
Programmability	Full SDK
Built-in autonomy	Navigates · Goes to places on its own, such as mapped rooms, waypoints or its charging dock
LLM support	Possible via SDK · No built-in LLM. Its SDK lets software on a computer control it.
MuJoCo simulation	Maker URDF only · iRobot's create3_sim includes the robot description, not packaged for MuJoCo. create3_sim ↗
NVIDIA Isaac simulation	Official model · Create 3 is in Isaac Sim's wheeled robot asset library. Isaac Sim wheeled assets ↗
Gazebo simulation	Official model · iRobot's ROS 2 create3_sim runs Create 3 in Gazebo, emulating its ROS 2 interface. create3_sim ↗
Best for	Ages 12+ (estimated)
Vision sensors	No vision sensors
Actuators	DC / gear motors
Audio	Speaker
Compute type	Proprietary / undisclosed
Remote control	Python from a laptop
Size	34 cm diameter, ~9 cm tall, ~2.5 kg (est.)
Drive	2-wheel differential (Roomba 600-class chassis without vacuum)
Compute	On-board controller running ROS 2, no user compute (payload SBC via USB-C)
Vision	None built in
Lidar	None
Sensors	Bumper, cliff sensors, IR proximity, wheel encoders, IMU, optical floor-tracking sensor
Runtime	~2 h (1800 mAh Li-ion), self-docking
Speed	0.306 m/s
SDK	ROS 2 over Wi-Fi/Ethernet-over-USB, Python 3 SDK over Bluetooth LE, iRobot Education web coding app

Common questions

How much does iRobot Create 3 cost?

It sold for ~$299–$449. Launched at $299. Later listed around $449 at resellers such as Adafruit (now marked as no longer stocked).

Can iRobot Create 3 be bought today?

It is discontinued, though used or leftover units still turn up. Official sales channels are down. A few resellers and eBay sellers still list units, often above the original price.