How Roomba Got Its Vacuum

The article details the creation of the Roomba vacuum by iRobot, starting with a focus group where potential customers reacted positively to the prototype. Initially designed as a carpet sweeper, customer expectations led to the addition of a micro vacuum to meet market demands. The team overcame challenges to integrate the vacuum into Roomba, improving its cleaning ability significantly. The addition of the vacuum was crucial for customer acceptance and the eventual success of the Roomba product.