Hi HN -- I'm the blog post author and one of the people who built this, am happy to answer any questions about the hardware/software behind it!
If I had to build one that moves around, I'd start with investigating the Roomba API, with an aim to mount the iPad on a Roomba and expose remote control of the Roomba to the chatter. You wouldn't get as high off the ground as a Double robot without making the mount unstable, though!