iRobot Roomba J-Series Robot Vacuum

Founded in 1990 by three roboticists from the MIT Artificial Intelligence Lab, iRobot revolutionized the home cleaning industry with the launch of the Roomba in 2002. Originally focused on military and space exploration robots, the company shifted its primary focus to consumer robotics, becoming a global leader in autonomous floor care. The J-series, such as the one pictured, introduced advanced obstacle avoidance and smart navigation technology.

Historically an American public company headquartered in Bedford, Massachusetts, iRobot underwent a major transition following a period of financial restructuring. After a proposed acquisition by Amazon collapsed in 2024 due to regulatory hurdles, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2025. In early 2026, it was acquired by its long-term manufacturing partner, Shenzhen Picea Robotics. Though now under Chinese ownership, iRobot maintains its engineering and headquarters in the United States, with a dedicated subsidiary to safeguard global consumer data.

While design and software development are anchored in the U.S., mass production is handled through a global supply chain. Manufacturing takes place predominantly in China through partners like Shenzhen Picea Robotics and BYD, with significant diversification into Malaysia to mitigate supply chain risks.