A have a look at iRobot’s 35-year robotics journey

iRobot formally began the Chapter 11 chapter course of this week. It expects the proceedings to be completed by February 2026. Whereas we nonetheless don’t know precisely what the long run holds for iRobot, the corporate mentioned its Roomba robotic vacuums will function usually throughout the restructuring. 

Since its founding in 1990, iRobot has offered greater than 50 million robots worldwide. iRobot has been a pillar of the robotics neighborhood. It spurred innovation and have become the primary firm to place robots in individuals’s houses at scale. Even at this time, it’s doubtless the one robotic the common individual has interacted with is a robotic vacuum cleaner.

Whereas we wait to be taught extra concerning the firm’s future, let’s have a look again on the highs, lows, and every thing in between.

1990: iRobot is based

From left to proper: Helen Greiner, Rodney Brooks, and Colin Angle, the co-founders of iRobot. | Supply: iRobot

In 1990, three engineers in MIT’s Synthetic Intelligence Lab, Rodney Brooks, Colin Angle, and Helen Greiner, launched IS Robotics, Inc., which might ultimately develop into iRobot. The corporate’s aim was to develop sensible robots to be used in area, army, and industrial purposes. At its begin, the corporate relied totally on authorities contracts to maintain going. 

iRobot’s first providing was the Genghis robotic, designed for area exploration. This six-legged insect-like robotic was launched in 1991. In 1996, iRobot developed Ariel, a robotic to detect and remove mines in surf zones. 

In 1998, iRobot received a DARPA contract and began constructing a tactical cell robotic. This ultimately led to the event of PackBot, a army robotic. In 2001, PackBot was used throughout searches on the World Commerce Heart after the September 11 terrorist assaults.

2002: iRobot launches Roomba

Over a decade after it was established, iRobot launched its flagship robotic: Roomba. Roomba is an automatic vacuum cleansing robotic powered by a chargeable battery. In simply over two years, iRobot offered a million Roombas, a milestone most robotics firms haven’t reached at this time. 

Whereas the Roomba grew to become iRobot’s business focus, it was nonetheless creating the PackBot and different robots for its authorities contracts. In 2002, PackBot was deployed with U.S. troops for the primary time. 

iRobot labored with the Nationwide Geographic Society to develop a robotic that searches the Nice Pyramid in Egypt. In 2004, iRobot received a contract to develop a small Unmanned Floor Automobile (SUGV).

2005: iRobot begins buying and selling on the NASDAQ

In 2005, iRobot inventory started buying and selling on the NASDAQ Inventory Alternate beneath ticker image IRBT. The identical 12 months, iRobot launched its Scooba ground washing robotic. This launch marks the beginning of an period of innovation for iRobot. With Roomba gross sales climbing, the corporate started trying to find its subsequent massive house robotic. 

In 2006, it launched the Grime Canine store sweeping robotic. The subsequent 12 months, it launched the Create programmable cell robotic, the Verro pool cleansing robotic, and the Looj gutter cleansing robotic. None of those robots had the endurance of the Roomba, nevertheless. 

iRobot continued to launch new merchandise over the subsequent few years. In 2008, it launched the Roomba pet collection {and professional} collection vacuum cleansing robots. It additionally expanded into maritime robots and received a contract to develop the LANdroid communication robotic.

2010: 20 years of iRobot

iRobot celebrated the corporate’s twentieth anniversary in 2010. The corporate co-sponsored Nationwide Robotics Week. At this level, iRobot’s place as a frontrunner within the business and a family title was secured.

That very same 12 months, iRobot helped to observe the Gulf of Mexico oil spill with its iRobot Seaglider. The robotic labored to detect underwater swimming pools of oil. In 2011, PackBot was used to collect information on the harmful situations on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe website. 

The corporate additionally spent 2011 bettering its product portfolio. It developed the 110 FirstLook, a small, mild, throwable UGV. Moreover, the corporate launched the Scooba 230 ground washing robotic and the Roomba 700 collection vacuuming robots. 

2012: iRobot acquires Evolution Robotics

In 2012, iRobot began to search for applied sciences outdoors of those it developed in-house. It acquired Evolution Robotics, a producer of the automated ground mopper Mint, for $74 million. A 12 months later, iRobot rebranded Mint as iRobot Braava. Like Mint, Braava used a disposable cleansing material for damp and dry cleansing. 

The corporate additionally made progress in its army work. In 2012, it introduced it had delivered greater than 5,000 protection and safety robots worldwide. 

2016: iRobot goes world and sells army robotics unit

2016 marked many modifications for iRobot. It began placing its consideration towards bringing shopper robots all all over the world. In February, the corporate offered its army robotics enterprise to Arlington Capital Companions to concentrate on its robotics vacuums. The identical 12 months, iRobot expanded its world footprint to China by opening its first Shanghai workplace.

In 2017, it acquired Gross sales on Demand Company (SODC), launching new workplaces in Japan, and Robopolis, its largest European distributor, opened new workplaces throughout Europe. At this level, iRobot had offered over 20 million house robots worldwide.

In 2019, the corporate acquired Root, an schooling robotics firm. 

The corporate’s investments appeared to repay. Simply three years later, by 2020, the corporate had offered greater than 30 million robots worldwide. This implies iRobot offered greater than 10 million robots from 2017 to 2020. 

Throughout this time, iRobot additionally deliberate to launch its Terra robotic garden mower. This product was formally unveiled in 2019 after which delayed in 2020 attributable to COVID-19. The corporate by no means returned to Terra after this delay. 

2021: iRobot seems past robotics

iRobot acquired Aeris, a Swiss provider of air purifiers. This photograph reveals merchandise from each firms. | Credit score: iRobot

Whereas iRobot was increasing at a fast tempo, it additionally began dealing with competitors from different robotic vacuum producers. At this level, many builders, significantly these in China, might supply vacuums with comparable options to the Roomba at a a lot cheaper price. 

So, iRobot started taking a look at increasing its choices past robotics. First, the corporate launched its first handheld vacuum. This product was designed to scrub areas the Roomba couldn’t get to. Moreover, it acquired Aeris Cleantec, an air purification firm, for $72 million. Little doubt, the corporate hoped to capitalize on the general public’s elevated curiosity in air purifiers that stemmed from the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. iRobot discontinued the Aeris line in 2024.

2022: Amazon makes bid to amass iRobot

An edited picture exhibiting an iRobot Roomba with Amazon branding. | Supply: iRobot, Amazon

In 2022, iRobot was in a tough spot. It wasn’t rising prefer it was a decade in the past; it was being squeezed by cheaper competitors, and its income was dropping. In comes Amazon, with a suggestion to purchase iRobot for $1.7 billion. 

Amazon had already purchased a number of robotics firms, together with Kiva Robotics, Canvas Know-how, and Zoox. Nevertheless, these firms didn’t produce shopper robots like iRobot. 

Whereas the Amazon deal acted as a lifeline for the corporate, iRobot was nonetheless struggling. In August 2022, the corporate laid off 10% of its workers, or about 140 workers. The layoffs have been a part of a restructuring plan that the corporate hoped would reserve it as much as $10 million in 2022 and between $30-$40 million in 2023.

In September, the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) formally opened an antitrust investigation into Amazon’s plans to amass iRobot. The FTC had issues about whether or not the information supplied by iRobot’s Roomba robotic vacuum provides Amazon an unfair benefit within the retail business. 

In 2023, the European Fee (EC) additionally opened an investigation into the Amazon, iRobot acquisition. The EC informed Amazon late within the 12 months that its preliminary view is that the acquisition might prohibit competitors available in the market for robotic vacuum cleaners. The EC was involved that Amazon might throttle iRobot’s competitors in its on-line market. 

2024: Amazon acquisition known as off

At the beginning of 2024, iRobot and Amazon introduced they might terminate their acquisition plans. The businesses mutually agreed on this choice and blamed “undue and disproportionate” regulatory scrutiny for the demise of the deal.

On the similar time, Angle stepped down as chairman and CEO, and iRobot introduced it will lay off 350 workers, representing 31% of its workforce on the time. Later that 12 months, Gary Cohen, who has 25-plus years of govt management and turnaround expertise, was named CEO.

iRobot continued to wrestle all year long. In November, it laid off one other 105 workers as a part of its restructuring plans. Because the begin of 2024, the corporate had diminished its world workforce by almost 50%.

2025: iRobot information Chapter 11 chapter

The iRobot growth group signed this first-generation Roomba clever floorvac. | Credit score: Joe Jones

This 12 months, iRobot has been on a little bit of a downward spiral. Its income continued to drop, and in November,  iRobot reported to the U.S. Securities and Alternate Fee that it had failed to search out one other purchaser and had “no sources upon which it could draw for added capital.”

At the moment, Santrum, a subsidiary of Shenzhen Picea Robotics Co., iRobot’s main contract producer, took on the corporate’s debt. Mixed with its excellent payments to the contract producer, this debt totaled greater than $350 million.

Now, iRobot has entered right into a restructuring help settlement with its creditor Santrum Hong Kong Co. and Picea Robotics. The Chinese language firms plan to amass the robotic vacuum cleaner maker via a court-supervised Chapter 11 chapter course of.

iRobot mentioned it and a few of its associates plan to start a pre-packaged Chapter 11 course of within the District of Delaware Courtroom by February 2026. The corporate mentioned the proceedings will allow it to proceed app performance, buyer applications, world companions, provide chain relationships, and product help.

Learn how leaders within the robotics business have reacted to the corporate’s chapter.