iRobot's creations lend an invaluable hand in a wide range of situations, from military drills to spring-cleaning sprees. However, the company's most famous robot is the Roomba, a circular vacuuming robot that tidies up floors with remarkable self-sufficiency. Roomba models leave their charging docks and roll across floors to suck up dirt and debris. With their advanced sensors, they are able to scour entire rooms while avoiding obstacles.

Roomba's extended family includes the floor-scrubbing Scooba, the mopping Braava, the gutter-cleaning Looj, and the pool-cleaning Mirra. As for iRobot's other inventions, they help out with assorted business and security tasks, such as communication, reconnaissance, and heavy lifting. The company—which was the brainchild of a team of roboticists from MIT—has sold more than 10 million robots since its founding in 1990, and it continues to encourage innovation with both its products and its educational outreach programs.