Remember just a few years ago when Roomba, iRobot’s first product was produced to much fanfare and skepticism? Just imagine an automated little disk that could slide over your floors and pick up everything that a broom would pick up – except that it could be programmed to do it automatically, when you weren’t even at home. And at the same time it could drive your dogs and cats crazy! I would never have bought one, because I was a skeptic, but my daughter didn’t like my wife complaining about my turbo-shedding Labrador, so she insisted that we get her one for Mother’s day. Well, now I’m a convert! Sure it’s got some peccadilloes, but don’t we all. Overall it does what it’s supposed to do, and I love the fact that it’s automated – because I’m lazy
Now it turns out that the people at iRobot have been very busy expanding their lineup of products to include a number of more robust models for government use. They’ve got robots that can go into a dangerous area, send back images and can be controlled remotely. Preventing the need for first responders to put their lives at risks in a number of otherwise dangerous situations.
That’s a wonderful example of a product line extension that I would guess could be very lucrative to iRobot. Kinda makes you think doesn’t it?
Chris Hawkes
