Editing Roomba (section)

== History ==
Engineer Joe Jones first conceived the idea for what eventually became the Roomba in 1989 while working at the [[MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory]]. The initial design, using [[LEGO]]-bricks, stemmed from a design challenge between Jones and his colleagues. Early prototypes were created and presented to the [[Denning Mobile Robot Company]] and [[Bissell]] in the 1990s, but neither company was interested in producing them.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rosen |first=Kenneth R. |date=2016-11-02 |title=Roomba's Long, Bumpy Path From Prototype to Your Living Room |url=https://nymag.com/vindicated/2016/11/roombas-long-bumpy-path-from-prototype-to-your-living-room.html |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=The Vindicated |language=en}}</ref> The concept languished until 1999, when [[S.C. Johnson & Son|S.C. Johnson]] eventually agreed to fund the project at [[iRobot]]. The device was initially called "DustPuppy" before being renamed to Roomba.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Joe |title=Don't Fear the Robot |url=https://nautil.us/dont-fear-the-robot-237802/ |website=Nautilus |publisher=NautilusNext Inc. |access-date=8 December 2023 |date=5 May 2020}}</ref> Development began in full in December 1999. S.C. Johnson pulled out after spending US$1–2 million, but iRobot continued with the project, eventually launching the first Roomba in September 2002.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rosen |first1=Kenneth |title=Roomba's Long, Bumpy Path From Prototype to Your Living Room |website=The Vindicated |publisher=Vox Media, LLC |access-date=8 December 2023|url=https://nymag.com/vindicated/2016/11/roombas-long-bumpy-path-from-prototype-to-your-living-room.html |date=2 November 2016}}</ref>