How Roomba started a robot revolution

The article introduces a Version History episode about how the Roomba became one of the first widely loved consumer robots despite its early technical limitations. Hosts David Pierce and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy speak with iRobot co-founder Colin Angle about the origins of the robot vacuum and its broader cultural impact.

Roomba’s success showed that consumers could embrace imperfect robots if they solved a real household problem and felt approachable. Its legacy helped define the modern smart home market, where personality, convenience, and incremental autonomy often matter as much as advanced intelligence.