The Robot Vacuum Arrives
A robot built from an MIT idea starts cleaning homes.
In September 2002 iRobot launches the Roomba, a robot vacuum that finds its way around a room with simple sensors. Engineer Joe Jones had first conceived it in 1989 at MIT, and the idea sat on the shelf for a decade before S.C. Johnson funded it in 1999.
Open in interactive timeline →Key Numbers
- Launched
- September 2002
- Idea Conceived
- 1989, MIT
- Funded
- 1999, S.C. Johnson
- Maker
- iRobot
Verified Facts
- The Roomba, an autonomous robot vacuum made by iRobot, was first introduced in September 2002.
- Engineer Joe Jones first conceived it in 1989 while working at MIT; the first design used LEGO bricks.
- Prototypes were shown to the Denning Mobile Robot Company and Bissell in the 1990s, but neither was interested. In 1999 S.C. Johnson agreed to fund the project at iRobot.
- Its design followed iRobot CTO Rodney Brooks's idea that robots should be like insects, with simple controls tuned to their surroundings.
Myth vs. Reality
Myth:
Reality: It used simple sensors to detect obstacles and drops. Cameras and room mapping came in much later models.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Roomba come out?
iRobot introduced the first Roomba in September 2002.
Who invented the Roomba?
Engineer Joe Jones first conceived it in 1989 at MIT; iRobot developed it with funding from S.C. Johnson from 1999.
Sources & Further Reading
Cite This Page
AskHistoryAI. “The Robot Vacuum Arrives.” AskHistoryAI — Interactive Timeline of Everything. Updated 2026-10-08. https://askhistoryai.com/event/sv-roomba/
Every fact on this page is checked against the published fact ledger and methodology; sources are listed above.