Editing IRobot (section)

==History==
iRobot was founded in 1990 by [[Rodney Brooks]], Colin Angle, and [[Helen Greiner]] after working in [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology|MIT]]'s [[MIT AI Lab|Artificial Intelligence Lab]]. In 1998, the company received a [[DARPA]] research contract which led to the development of the [[PackBot]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass-high-tech/2008/06/irobot-awarded-33m-to-build-new-darpa-robot.html|access-date=2021-02-04|website=www.bizjournals.com |title = IRobot awarded $3.3M to build new DARPA robot}}</ref>

In September 2002, iRobot unveiled its flagship home robot, the [[Roomba]], which went on to sell a million units by 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.irobot.com/million_roombas/million.htm |title=One Million Roombas |access-date=2013-03-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512005148/http://www.irobot.com/million_roombas/million.htm |archive-date=2013-05-12 }}</ref> In August 2005, the company won a patent infringement case against Canadian company Koolatron Corp., prohibiting them from selling an unauthorized clone of the Roomba called the Koolvac in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ulanoff |first1=Lance |title=iRobot Targets Roomba Knockoff |url=http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1814570,00.asp |website=PCMag |access-date=31 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930180614/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1814570,00.asp |date=10 May 2005 |url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-09-30}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=iRobot patent win sweeps rival out of U.S. |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2005/08/22/daily46.html |website=Boston Business Journal |publisher=American City Business Journals |access-date=31 March 2025 |date=25 August 2005}}</ref> iRobot began being traded on the [[NASDAQ]] in November 2005, under ticker symbol IRBT.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The history of the Roomba|url=https://fortune.com/2013/11/29/the-history-of-the-roomba/|access-date=2021-02-04|website=Fortune|language=en |date=November 29, 2013 |first=Jolie |last=Kerr}}</ref> On September 17, 2012, iRobot announced that it had acquired [[Evolution Robotics]], manufacturer of automated floor mopper Mint.<ref name="Acquisition press release">{{cite web |url=http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=203 |title=IRobot Corporation: Our History |access-date=2009-11-20 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103091646/http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=203 |archive-date=2012-01-03 }}</ref>

In addition to deployment as bomb-disposal units with the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan, PackBots have been used to gather data in dangerous conditions at the [[Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster]] site,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/04/18/irobot-packbots-enter-fukushima-nuclear-plant-to-gather-data-ta/|title=iRobot Packbots enter Fukushima nuclear plant to gather data, take photos, save lives (video)|author=Amar Toor|publisher=AOL|work=Engadget|date=18 April 2011 |access-date=25 May 2015}}</ref> and an [[Seaglider|iRobot Seaglider]] detected underwater pools of oil after the [[Deepwater Horizon oil spill]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2012/09/12/packbots-roombas-and-now-healthcare-the-irobot-story/?single_page=true|title=iRobot and healthcare|work=Xconomy|access-date=25 May 2015}}</ref> In February 2016, iRobot announced that it would sell its military robotics business to [[Arlington Capital Partners]], in order to focus more on the consumer market.<ref name="ars-spinout">{{cite web|title=iRobot sells off military unit, will stick to friendlier consumer robots|url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2016/02/irobot-sells-off-military-unit-will-stick-to-friendlier-consumer-robots/|website=Ars Technica|date=5 February 2016 |first=Ron |last=Amadeo |access-date=5 February 2016}}</ref>

In November 2021, iRobot announced that it had acquired Aeris Cleantec AG, a Swiss air purifier manufacturer. iRobot began selling Aeris-designed air purifiers through its own brand in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 November 2021 |title=iRobot Acquires Air Purification Company, Aeris Cleantec AG |url=https://aeris.irobot.com/irobot-acquires-air-purification-company-aeris-cleantec-ag/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810083519/https://aeris.irobot.com/irobot-acquires-air-purification-company-aeris-cleantec-ag/ |archive-date=10 August 2022 |access-date=1 May 2022 |website=irobot.com |publisher=iRobot Corporation}}</ref> By 2020, iRobot had sold more than 30 million home robots, and deployed more than 5,000 defense & security robots.<ref>{{cite web |title=iRobot Reports Third-Quarter 2020 Financial Results |url=https://media.irobot.com/2020-10-20-iRobot-Reports-Third-Quarter-2020-Financial-Results |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127141214/https://media.irobot.com/2020-10-20-iRobot-Reports-Third-Quarter-2020-Financial-Results |archive-date=27 January 2021 |access-date=24 April 2021}}</ref>

=== Attempted acquisition by Amazon (2022–2024) ===
On August 5, 2022, [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] announced its intent to acquire iRobot in a deal worth US$1.7{{nbsp}}billion. The deal was subject to federal approval from the U.S. [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC) and other regulatory agencies.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Bray |first1=Hiawatha |last2=Gardizy |first2=Anissa |date=August 5, 2022 |title=iRobot Roombas its way into Amazon's arms |work=The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/08/05/business/amazon-acquire-irobot-17-billion-deal-local-robotics-firm-faces-challenges/}}</ref> In September 2022, the FTC requested more data from both companies, amid concerns about Amazon's market power and the privacy implications of it gaining information about consumer floorplans.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-21 |title=FTC reviewing Amazon's $1.7 billion deal to buy iRobot |url=https://apnews.com/article/technology-federal-trade-commission-65d4e0de892f0e1b2f8ee20b6f45832e |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> 

In June 2023, the UK's [[Competition and Markets Authority]] cleared the acquisition, saying it wouldn't lead to competition concerns in the country. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Mathews |first=Eva |date=2023-06-16 |title=UK clears Amazon's $1.7 billion deal for Roomba-maker iRobot |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/uk-regulator-clears-amazons-planned-purchase-irobot-2023-06-16/ |access-date=2023-06-16}}</ref> The [[European Commission]] launched a formal investigation into the proposed purchase in July 2023, citing that it would "allow Amazon to restrict competition in the market for robot vacuum cleaners ('RVCs') and to strengthen its position as online marketplace provider."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Jon |date=2023-07-06 |title=Amazon's iRobot Roomba acquisition under formal EU investigation |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/6/23628636/eu-regulators-amazon-irobot-roomba-acquisition-investigation |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> In July 2023, Amazon reduced the offer price to $1.42{{nbsp}}billion after iRobot raised $200{{nbsp}}million in new debt to fund its daily operations.<ref>{{cite news |last=Soni |first=Aditya |date=25 July 2023 |title=Amazon lowers iRobot deal price by 15% after Roomba maker incurs fresh debt |url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/amazon-amends-irobot-deal-lower-offer-price-by-15-2023-07-25/ |publisher=Reuters}}</ref> 

In January 2024, Amazon and iRobot announced they would end their plans to merge in the face of opposition from [[European Union|EU]] and [[United States antitrust law|U.S.]] [[Competition law|antitrust]] regulators.<ref name="amazon-terminate" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/amazon-irobot-abandon-merger-face-eu-opposition-2024-01-29/|title=Amazon, Roomba-parent iRobot abandon $1.4 billion merger deal|website=Reuters|date=January 29, 2024|author=David Shepardson|access-date=March 27, 2025}}</ref>  This resulted in Amazon paying iRobot a $94{{nbsp}}million [[reverse breakup fee]], iRobot laying off 31{{nbsp}}percent of its employees, and CEO Colin Angle departing.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bc-eu-amazon-irobot-vacuum-cleaner_n_65b7adc8e4b0d407294fdf2c |title=Amazon Calls Off Bid To Buy Robot Vacuum Cleaner IRobot Amid Scrutiny In The US And Europe |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref> Gary Cohen was appointed as the company’s new chief executive in May 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hiawatha |first=Bray |first4=7:55 p m Share on Facebook Share on TwitterView |title=IRobot names new CEO, claims progress on restructuring - The Boston Globe |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/07/business/irobot-new-ceo-restructuring/ |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}</ref>