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iRobot history

From an MIT robotics lab in 1990 to Roomba® robots in homes around the world

Founded in 1990 by MIT roboticists with the vision of making practical robots a reality, iRobot has developed some of the world's most important robots. Its robots have revealed mysteries of the Great Pyramid of Giza, found harmful subsea oil in the Gulf of Mexico and saved thousands of lives in areas of conflict and crisis around the globe. iRobot inspired the first Micro Rovers used by NASA, deployed the first ground robots used by US forces in conflict, brought the first self-navigating FDA-approved remote presence robots to hospitals, and introduced the first practical home robot with Roomba®, forging a path for an entirely new category in home cleaning. Today more than 50 million Roomba® robots have been sold worldwide.

Colin Angle, iRobot co-founder, speaking on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt 2018
Colin Angle, iRobot co-founder and former CEO (photo from 2018) · Photo: TechCrunch / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

“…to change the world empowering people to do more.”

— Colin Angle, iRobot co-founder
From the first model to today

The Roomba® robot road

Follow the road from the first Roomba® in 2002 to the latest models, then on to a new chapter in 2026.

  1. 2002Intelligent FloorVacFirst Roomba®
  2. 2008Pet Series
  3. 2011700 Series
  4. 2013800 Series
  5. 2015980
  6. 2016Braava jet® 240
  7. 2017690
  8. 2018i7
  9. 2019s9+
  10. 2022Combo j7+
  11. 2023Combo j9+
  12. 2024Combo 10 Max
  13. 2025Max 705 Combo
  14. 2026A new chapter for Roomba® robotsRead the new-era story
1990 to today

Company milestones

The 1990s

  1. 1990

    • MIT roboticists Colin Angle, Helen Greiner and Rodney Brooks co-found iRobot.

  2. 1991

    • iRobot develops Genghis™, a robot designed for space exploration.

  3. 1996

    • iRobot develops Ariel™, a robot that detects and eliminates mines in surf zones.

  4. 1998

    • iRobot wins the DARPA contract to build a tactical mobile robot, leading to the development of the iRobot PackBot®.

The 2000s

  1. 2001

    • The iRobot PackBot® searches at the World Trade Center after the September 11 attacks.

  2. 2002

    • iRobot launches the Roomba® floor vacuuming robot.
    • The iRobot PackBot® is deployed with US troops for the first time.
    • iRobot and the National Geographic Society develop a robot that searches the Great Pyramid in Egypt.

  3. 2004

    • iRobot wins a contract to develop a Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV).

  4. 2005

    • iRobot launches the Scooba® floor washing robot.
    • iRobot stock begins trading on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange.

  5. 2006

    • iRobot launches the Dirt Dog® shop sweeping robot.

  6. 2007

    • iRobot launches the Create® programmable mobile robot.
    • iRobot launches the Verro® pool cleaning robot.
    • iRobot launches the Looj® gutter cleaning robot.

  7. 2008

    • iRobot expands into maritime robots.
    • iRobot launches the Roomba® Pet Series and Professional Series vacuum cleaning robots.
    • iRobot wins the contract to develop a LANdroid communication robot.

  8. 2009

    • iRobot launches the SPARK education initiative.

The 2010s

  1. 2010

    • iRobot celebrates 20 years of making a difference.
    • iRobot co-sponsors National Robotics Week.
    • iRobot helps monitor the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

  2. 2011

    • iRobot develops the 110 FirstLook®, a small, light, throwable UGV.
    • iRobot launches the Scooba® 230 floor washing robot.
    • iRobot launches the Roomba® 700 Series vacuuming robots.

  3. 2012

    • iRobot acquires Evolution Robotics.
    • More than 5,000 defence and security robots delivered worldwide.

  4. 2013

    • iRobot launches the Roomba® 800 Series with the AeroForce® Performance Cleaning System.
    • iRobot launches the Ava™ 500 video collaboration robot.
    • iRobot launches the Mirra™ 530 pool cleaning robot.
    • More than 10 million home robots sold worldwide.

  5. 2014

    • iRobot launches the Scooba® 450 floor scrubbing robot.

  6. 2015

    • iRobot launches the Roomba® 980, combining visual navigation, cloud-connected app control and more cleaning power on carpets.

  7. 2016

    • iRobot expands to China with a new Shanghai office.
    • iRobot launches the Braava jet® mopping robot, ideal for kitchens, bathrooms and other small areas.
    • iRobot sells its defence and security business to Arlington Capital Partners to focus on consumer robots.

  8. 2017

    • iRobot launches the Roomba® 690 and 890, extending Wi-Fi connectivity.
    • iRobot acquires Sales on Demand Corporation (SODC), opening iRobot offices in Japan.
    • iRobot acquires Robopolis, its largest European distributor, opening offices across Europe.
    • More than 20 million home robots sold worldwide.

  9. 2018

    • iRobot launches the Roomba® i7+ with Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal, a robot vacuum that empties itself and learns a home's floor plan.
    • iRobot launches the Roomba® e5 robot vacuum.

  10. 2019

    • iRobot launches the Roomba® s9+ with Clean Base™ Automatic Dirt Disposal, its most advanced robot vacuum at the time.
    • iRobot launches the Braava jet® m6, a robot mop that tackles sticky messes in multiple rooms and large spaces.
    • iRobot adds the Root® coding robot to its product line.

The 2020s

  1. 2020

    • iRobot celebrates 30 years of empowering people to do more.
    • More than 30 million home robots sold worldwide.
    • iRobot launches iRobot Genius™ Home Intelligence, giving people more control over how and when their robots clean.

  2. 2021

    • More than 40 million robots sold worldwide.
    • iRobot launches the Roomba® j7+, a robot vacuum that recognises and avoids obstacles.
    • iRobot launches iRobot Genius™ 3.0, making cleaning more personal to each home.
    • iRobot acquires air purifier company Aeris Cleantec.

  3. 2022

    • iRobot unveils iRobot OS, the next step after the iRobot Genius™ platform.
    • iRobot launches the Create® 3 educational robot.
    • iRobot launches the Roomba® Combo j7+, a 2-in-1 robot that lifts its mop pad onto its top when it meets carpet.

  4. 2023

    • iRobot launches the Roomba® Combo j9+ and Roomba® j9+.
    • More than 50 million home robots sold worldwide.

  5. 2024

    • iRobot launches the Roomba® Combo 10 Max with AutoWash™ dock, its first dock that washes and dries the mop pad, empties the bin and refills water.

  6. 2025

    • iRobot launches its largest Roomba® lineup, from the Roomba® 105 to the Roomba® Plus 505 Combo.
    • iRobot launches the Roomba® Max 705 Combo with a PowerSpin™ roller mop and ClearView™ Pro LiDAR.

  7. 2026

    • iRobot begins a new chapter with a world-leading robotics partner.
    • iRobot launches the 2026 Roomba® lineup, including the Roomba® 115 Combo, Plus 575 Combo, Plus 675 Combo and Max 875 Combo.
    • The Roomba® Max 875 Combo is named an IFA Innovation Awards 2026 Honoree in Best in Home Appliances.
What's next

The next chapter has begun

The 2026 Roomba® robot lineup is here.

Read the new-era story See the new robots