How Roomba started the robot revolution

If you had a Roomba, especially in the early days of the robot vacuum, it was in many ways a messy machine. It just bounces around your house, looking for something to suck on, until its battery dies or its (very small) tank is full. Not that it mattered, though. Maybe you loved your Roomba. Maybe you gave it a name.

Get started this part of Ancient Historywe tell the story of Roomba, and how it made the living room a favorite. SeasideDavid Pierce and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy are joined by iRobot co-founder and former CEO Colin Angle to follow the robovac revolution that began, with a group of engineers trying to create a business using robots. Robots of all kinds. We explain how iRobot made the Roomba for almost a decade, how it always came close to breaking, and the surprising reasons why it started. We also look at the huge market that grew around Roomba, and the ways in which iRobot failed to keep up.

This is the second episode of the fourth season of Ancient History. If you missed last week’s premiere, on Harmony awaymake sure you get it! Here’s how to get each episode, and all the other fun stuff, as soon as it drops:

If you’re interested in learning more about Roomba’s history, here are a few links to get you started: