iRobot Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy for Picea Acquisition

iRobot, the pioneering maker of the Roomba robot vacuum, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on December 14 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, paving the way for its acquisition by Shenzhen-based Picea Robotics, its primary manufacturer.

The filing marks the end of iRobot's 35 years as a publicly traded company, transitioning it to private ownership under Picea. As part of the agreement, Picea, which produces household appliances and its own 3i-brand robot vacuums, will assume iRobot's approximately $191 million in debt and receive 100 percent equity in the new entity. The process is expected to conclude by February 2026. iRobot officials stated that the company will continue operating normally during the proceedings, with no anticipated interruptions to app functionality, customer support, supply chains, or product warranties.

Founded in 1990 by three Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers, iRobot initially developed robotics for military and emergency applications, including devices used in Mars exploration, bomb disposal, and post-9/11 search efforts at the World Trade Center site. The company entered the consumer market with the...