Roomba maker files for bankruptcy — sparking worries that pricey vacuums will stop working

Core Viewpoint - iRobot, the maker of Roomba vacuums, has filed for bankruptcy and will be acquired by its Chinese supplier, Shenzhen Picea Robotics, transitioning to a privately held company [1][2]. Group 1: Company Background - iRobot was founded by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and has been in operation for 35 years [2][5]. - The company has sold approximately 50 million Roombas worldwide, with some premium models costing over $1,000 [5][7]. Group 2: Financial Situation - iRobot's struggles intensified after a proposed acquisition by Amazon for $1.7 billion fell through in 2024 due to regulatory concerns, leading to significant layoffs of 350 employees, or 30% of its workforce [1][7]. - Following the failed acquisition, Amazon paid iRobot a breakup fee of $94 million [7]. Group 3: Customer Concerns - Customers are worried about the future functionality of their Roomba vacuums, particularly those that rely on online services for operation [2][3]. - Despite the bankruptcy, iRobot has assured customers that it will continue to support the app that controls the robots and does not anticipate any service disruptions [2].