Within the high row, a Roomba and a Packbot. Within the backside row, Genghis and Ariel. | Supply: iRobot, the Nationwide Museum of American Historical past, MIT
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 stated its Roomba robotic vacuums will function usually through the restructuring.
Since its founding in 1990, iRobot has bought greater than 50 million robots worldwide. iRobot has been a pillar of the robotics group. It spurred innovation and have become the primary firm to place robots in folks’s properties at scale. Even at this time, it’s doubtless the one robotic the typical individual has interacted with is a robotic vacuum cleaner.
Whereas we wait to be taught extra in regards to the firm’s future, let’s have a look again on the highs, lows, and every part 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 finally turn out to be iRobot. The corporate’s aim was to develop sensible robots to be used in house, navy, and industrial functions. At its begin, the corporate relied totally on authorities contracts to maintain going.
iRobot’s first providing was the Genghis robotic, designed for house exploration. This six-legged insect-like robotic was launched in 1991. In 1996, iRobot developed Ariel, a robotic to detect and get rid of mines in surf zones.
In 1998, iRobot gained a DARPA contract and began constructing a tactical cellular robotic. This finally led to the event of PackBot, a navy 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 bought a million Roombas, a milestone most robotics firms haven’t reached at this time.
Whereas the Roomba turned iRobot’s industrial 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 gained 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 Trade 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 huge dwelling robotic.
In 2006, it launched the Dust Canine store sweeping robotic. The following 12 months, it launched the Create programmable cellular robotic, the Verro pool cleansing robotic, and the Looj gutter cleansing robotic. None of those robots had the endurance of the Roomba, nonetheless.
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 gained 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 trade and a family title was secured.
That very same 12 months, iRobot helped to watch 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 knowledge on the damaging situations on the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear catastrophe web site.
The corporate additionally spent 2011 improving 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 exterior 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 navy work. In 2012, it introduced it had delivered greater than 5,000 protection and safety robots worldwide.
2016: iRobot goes international and sells navy robotics unit
2016 marked many adjustments for iRobot. It began placing its consideration towards bringing client robots all all over the world. In February, the corporate bought its navy robotics enterprise to Arlington Capital Companions to give attention to its robotics vacuums. The identical 12 months, iRobot expanded its international footprint to China by opening its first Shanghai workplace.
In 2017, it acquired Gross sales on Demand Company (SODC), launching new places of work in Japan, and Robopolis, its largest European distributor, opened new places of work throughout Europe. At this level, iRobot had bought over 20 million dwelling robots worldwide.
In 2019, the corporate acquired Root, an training robotics firm.
The corporate’s investments appeared to repay. Simply three years later, by 2020, the corporate had bought greater than 30 million robots worldwide. This implies iRobot bought 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 as a result of 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 picture reveals merchandise from each firms. | Credit score: iRobot
Whereas iRobot was increasing at a speedy tempo, it additionally began going through competitors from different robotic vacuum producers. At this level, many builders, notably these in China, may 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 wash areas the Roomba couldn’t get to. Moreover, it acquired Aeris Cleantec, an air purification firm, for $72 million. Little question, 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 accumulate iRobot
An edited picture displaying 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 Expertise, and Zoox. Nonetheless, these firms didn’t produce client 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 employees, or about 140 staff. 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 accumulate iRobot. The FTC had considerations about whether or not the info offered by iRobot’s Roomba robotic vacuum provides Amazon an unfair benefit within the retail trade.
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 limit competitors available in the market for robotic vacuum cleaners. The EC was involved that Amazon may throttle iRobot’s competitors in its on-line market.
2024: Amazon acquisition referred to as off
Initially of 2024, iRobot and Amazon introduced they might terminate their acquisition plans. The businesses mutually agreed on this determination and blamed “undue and disproportionate” regulatory scrutiny for the demise of the deal.
On the identical time, Angle stepped down as chairman and CEO, and iRobot introduced it could lay off 350 staff, 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 staff as a part of its restructuring plans. For the reason that begin of 2024, the corporate had decreased its international workforce by practically 50%.
2025: iRobot recordsdata Chapter 11 chapter
The iRobot growth crew 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 Trade Fee that it had failed to search out one other purchaser and had “no sources upon which it may possibly draw for added capital.”
At the moment, Santrum, a subsidiary of Shenzhen Picea Robotics Co., iRobot’s major 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 accumulate the robotic vacuum cleaner maker by means of a court-supervised Chapter 11 chapter course of.
iRobot stated it and a few of its associates plan to start a pre-packaged Chapter 11 course of within the District of Delaware Court docket by February 2026. The corporate stated the proceedings will allow it to proceed app performance, buyer applications, international companions, provide chain relationships, and product help.
Learn how leaders within the robotics trade have reacted to the corporate’s chapter.
The submit A take a look at iRobot’s 35-year robotics journey appeared first on The Robotic Report.
