# iRobot Evolution Documenting iRobot's Design Transformation By Geebee Micro | Published 2009-04-18 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iRobot-Designs-Robotics-Roomba References: [news.cnet](http://news.cnet.com/2300-11386_3-10000731.html?tag=mncol) & [store.irobot](http://store.irobot.com/corp/index.jsp) If you’re not in the military, you’ll probably think of the [Roomba](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/genius-4) when the name [iRobot](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2in1-roomba) comes to mind, but the company has actually had a series of evolutionary steps in relation to robotic design over the last 10-15 years, as shown in these photos I’ve included. The Roomba is a robotic machine made to clean the floor of a home, but other military robotic designs by iRobot are made to clean the roads of far more dangerous things than dirt. While Asians like to develop robots that have a similarity to humans (sometimes in a very creepy manner), iRobot CEO Colin Angle says in reality there are too many restraints when attempting to make a practical robot in the image of a human. Even so, iRobot has dabbled in the area, as it’s obviously a great attention-getter and marketing tool that draws a lot of media attention. Other robot shapes made by iRobot have been in the form of crabs and insects. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.2/10 - Popularity: 53% | Activity: 6% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [AI](https://www.trendhunter.com/ai) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Evolution of Robotic Design:** Exploring the transformative journey of iRobot's robotic designs over the past decade, from Roombas to military robots designed to clean roads. - **Practicality Over Humanoid Robots:** Highlighting iRobot CEO Colin Angle's perspective on the limitations of creating humanoid robots and the focus on practicality in design. - **Non-traditional Robot Shapes:** Showcasing iRobot's experimentation with unconventional shapes such as crabs and insects for their robotic creations. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Consumer Robotics:** Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the consumer robotics industry through the continuous evolution of designs like the Roomba. - **Military Robotics:** Exploring disruptive innovation opportunities in the military robotics sector, particularly in the development of robots designed for hazardous road cleaning. - **Marketing and Media:** Identifying potential disruptive innovation in marketing and media by leveraging attention-grabbing robotic designs as effective promotional tools. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Upgraded Service Robot Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/humanoid-assistant.md) - [Advanced 2-in-1 Vacuums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/2in1-roomba.md) - [Redefined Household Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/turbox-series.md) - [Adaptive Automated Cleaning Device](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/automated-cleaning-device.md) - [Stair-Climbing Robot Vacuums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/roborock-saros-rover.md) - [Advanced Obstacle Avoidance Vacuums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dji-romo.md) - [Sleek Glass-Shell Vacuums](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dji-romo-robot.md) - [Smart Automated Home Cleaners](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/genius-4.md) - [Robotic Appliance Acquisitions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/irobot.md)