Big news shaking up the robotics world: iRobot, creators of the beloved Roomba robot vacuum, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on December 14, 2025, in Delaware court. This isn’t a full shutdown – it’s a reorganization to wipe out debt and emerge stronger, with a deal already in place to be bought by Chinese supplier Picea Robotics.

Key factors: Intense price wars with cheaper imports, the collapsed Amazon deal (which would’ve brought deep pockets and smart home integration), and tariff hits costing them $23 million this year.

The good news? Your Roomba keeps working, support continues, and the brand lives on privately owned.

Former CEO and co-founder Colin Angle called it “profoundly disappointing” and a “tragedy for consumers,” pointing fingers at regulatory blocks on the Amazon merger.