TechCrunch Robotics

How iRobot Lost Its Way Home

iRobot, the pioneer of consumer robotics and creator of the Roomba, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, ending a 35‑year journey from MIT lab to household staple. A $1.7 billion Amazon acquisition collapsed after EU regulators blocked the deal, triggering a leadership shake‑up and a 31% workforce cut. Declining sales, supply‑chain turbulence, and aggressive low‑cost Chinese competitors further strained the business, despite a $200 million lifeline from Carlyle. Shenzhen‑based PICEA Robotics, iRobot’s main supplier, will now steer the reorganized company while promising uninterrupted product support.