an essay
Aside from the daily routine, you and your Snunk! will encounter several types of special events, described herein.
Exploration
Whenever your Snunk! wakes up from hibernation, it will spend some time creating an internal map of its environment: a floorplan with details about obstacles, surface types, danger areas (due to wetness, debris, electrical cords, etc), and special objects (like its Litter Box and Charging Station). You can use the S!PI software (or verbal commands) to correct and update this floorplan, setting patrol points and restricted areas as you see fit.
If your Snunk! attempts to enter a room that is off-limits, say its name to get its attention, followed by the "Out!" command. See the Snunk! Command Reference for additional commands related to Exploration.
Danger
Your Snunk! is pre-programmed to sense several types of danger, including spills, smoke, and trip-and-fall hazards. It will also attempt to identify humans and animals that it senses, and alert you if it thinks there is a stranger in the house.
Upon encountering danger, your Snunk! will issue a cry of alarm. If you call your Snunk!s name it will attempt to find you, and optionally lead you back to the danger area. If no one responds to its cries, it will go into low-power Sentinel mode, and sound an alarm every ten minutes, or whenever it senses someone approaching.
Your Snunk! can be programmed to respond to danger situations in different ways, and even to alert you remotely via pager or email. See the Advanced Programming Manual for details and a tutorial.
Cleaning Your Snunk!
As you probably already know, your Snunk! habitually cleans itself on a day-to-day basis, and will only need occasional help from you. You can give your Snunk! a bath using mild soap and warm water, although you should avoid submerging it for extended periods.
Sickness
Your Snunk! is constantly monitoring the input from its various sensors, both external and internal. If it detects a abnormal input or a malfunction, it will tell you that it is feeling "sick". If it is simply low on power, it will ask to be carried to its Charging Station. Otherwise it will indicate that it needs to be connected to the S!PI software via USB cable for further diagnostic.
Your Snunk! is designed to be user-serviceable when possible. See the Troubleshooting Guide for instructions on pinpointing trouble and replacing various parts, and for instructions on what to do if factory service is required.
If your Snunk! indicates that it has an upset stomach, it may need to flush its digestive tract. It is able to do so on its own, by drinking a bowl-full of water and then purging its stomach. It will tell you when it is ready to purge so that you can put it in the sink or tub. It will try not to make a mess! If digestive problems persist, you may need to order a special food packet that will clean and disinfect the entire digestive tract. See the Troubleshooting Guide for more details.
Hibernation
Your Snunk! is designed for continuous operation, but there may be times when it is desireable to "shut it down" for a while, such as when transporting it to a new home or for keeping it out of harm's way during construction or renovation projects. You can use the S!PI software to put your Snunk! into Hibernation Mode, which backs up its memory, purges and flushes its digestive tract, and puts it into a compact, easy-to-store shape. S!PI will walk you through the process, step by step.
You can, of course, initiate a manual hibernation in an emergency by issuing a "Hibernate Now" command and answering "Yes" to your Snunk!s request for confirmation. Your Snunk! will assume the storage shape and power down. Manual hibernation should only be used for short-term storage, however. It is important that you perform a full hibernation sequence using S!PI at your earliest convenience in order to ensure the long-term health of your Snunk!
Resetting Your Snunk! Pet
Like any complicated electronic device, your Snunk! will occasionally require a software reset in order to continue normal operation. If your Snunk! stops responding, or is behaving erratically, you should try pressing the reset switch, located behind its right front shoulder (opposite the USB port). Press and hold the switch for two seconds, and your Snunk! should begin wagging its tail to indicate that it is ready to go.
If that doesn't work, or doesn't solve the problem, connect the USB cable and use the diagnostic tools in the S!PI software to determine what is wrong. S!PI can be used to restore the software in your Snunk! to its last "known-good state".
Should you decide to start from scratch with your Snunk!, you can erase its memory and restore it to its original factory state (with or without firmware upgrades) using the S!PI software. Select the "Full Reset" option from the Tools menu and follow the onscreen instructions.
Next Chapter:Accessories and Upgrades
By Psydeshow on September 29, 2002 at 3:40pm