iRobot files for IPO

iRobot, maker of the Roomba vacuum robot, today said that it has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The company was founded in 1990 and originally produced robots for scientific applications. The first consumer product was released 2000 : "My real baby" was a baby doll that was able to show "emotional respones" and integrated first features of artificial intelligence. The success of the company is built on the Roomba, which became the first consumer robotic floorvac in the US in 2002.

The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been announced. (THG)