iRobot released better-than-expected first quarter earnings after the close Thursday and reaffirmed its somewhat lukewarm expectations for the year. (2008 is the potential blockbuster year, with key military products including the PackBot SUGV Early and the iRobot Warrior driving sales).
"In Q1, we delivered our 11th consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth," said iRobot CEO Colin Angle. "Our financial performance in the quarter was on plan and consistent with our expectations. These results coupled with our excellent visibility for the rest of the year, particularly in our government business, give us a high level of confidence in meeting our first-half and full-year financial guidance. We are therefore reaffirming the guidance we provided on Feb. 12, 2007."
The company highlighted its Roomba product, saying that sales of the product were up both to stores and to consumers. But there was no mention of Scooba, which has been withdrawn from some storefronts (which the company said would happen at last quarter's conference call).
Revenue rose to $39.5 million, up from $38.2 million, which comes despite a tough comparison to last year's distribution of approximately 50,000 Scoobas (my rough estimate) of high-margin Scoobas in last year's first quarter channel fill.
Gross profit declined to $11.1 million from $12.2 million, which I imagine was due to the Scooba rollout.
Net loss rose to $5.5 million vs. $2.9 million -- but remember that the company is significantly larger than it was a year ago with a bigger cost structure as it ramps up spending to support future growth.
The company also mentioned its $2.8 million order for 22 PackBots from Germany, $14 million for 101 Fido PackBots, the introduction of the iRobot Verro pool cleaning robots, its new alliance with Boeing on the SUGV Early (which will be available for delivery in "mid-2008") and the naming of Sandra Lawrence president and GM of the Home Robots Division.
iRobot will host a conference call Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Robot Stock News will post notes after the conference call concludes.
Tags: iRobot, IRBT
Friday, July 11, 2008
iRobot Releases First Quarter Earnings
iRobot released better-than-expected first quarter earnings after the close Thursday and reaffirmed its somewhat lukewarm expectations for the year. (2008 is the potential blockbuster year, with key military products including the PackBot SUGV Early and the iRobot Warrior driving sales).
"In Q1, we delivered our 11th consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth," said iRobot CEO Colin Angle. "Our financial performance in the quarter was on plan and consistent with our expectations. These results coupled with our excellent visibility for the rest of the year, particularly in our government business, give us a high level of confidence in meeting our first-half and full-year financial guidance. We are therefore reaffirming the guidance we provided on Feb. 12, 2007."
The company highlighted its Roomba product, saying that sales of the product were up both to stores and to consumers. But there was no mention of Scooba, which has been withdrawn from some storefronts (which the company said would happen at last quarter's conference call).
Revenue rose to $39.5 million, up from $38.2 million, which comes despite a tough comparison to last year's distribution of approximately 50,000 Scoobas (my rough estimate) of high-margin Scoobas in last year's first quarter channel fill.
Gross profit declined to $11.1 million from $12.2 million, which I imagine was due to the Scooba rollout.
Net loss rose to $5.5 million vs. $2.9 million -- but remember that the company is significantly larger than it was a year ago with a bigger cost structure as it ramps up spending to support future growth.
The company also mentioned its $2.8 million order for 22 PackBots from Germany, $14 million for 101 Fido PackBots, the introduction of the iRobot Verro pool cleaning robots, its new alliance with Boeing on the SUGV Early (which will be available for delivery in "mid-2008") and the naming of Sandra Lawrence president and GM of the Home Robots Division.
iRobot will host a conference call Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Robot Stock News will post notes after the conference call concludes.
Tags: iRobot, IRBT
"In Q1, we delivered our 11th consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth," said iRobot CEO Colin Angle. "Our financial performance in the quarter was on plan and consistent with our expectations. These results coupled with our excellent visibility for the rest of the year, particularly in our government business, give us a high level of confidence in meeting our first-half and full-year financial guidance. We are therefore reaffirming the guidance we provided on Feb. 12, 2007."
The company highlighted its Roomba product, saying that sales of the product were up both to stores and to consumers. But there was no mention of Scooba, which has been withdrawn from some storefronts (which the company said would happen at last quarter's conference call).
Revenue rose to $39.5 million, up from $38.2 million, which comes despite a tough comparison to last year's distribution of approximately 50,000 Scoobas (my rough estimate) of high-margin Scoobas in last year's first quarter channel fill.
Gross profit declined to $11.1 million from $12.2 million, which I imagine was due to the Scooba rollout.
Net loss rose to $5.5 million vs. $2.9 million -- but remember that the company is significantly larger than it was a year ago with a bigger cost structure as it ramps up spending to support future growth.
The company also mentioned its $2.8 million order for 22 PackBots from Germany, $14 million for 101 Fido PackBots, the introduction of the iRobot Verro pool cleaning robots, its new alliance with Boeing on the SUGV Early (which will be available for delivery in "mid-2008") and the naming of Sandra Lawrence president and GM of the Home Robots Division.
iRobot will host a conference call Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Robot Stock News will post notes after the conference call concludes.
Tags: iRobot, IRBT
iRobot Releases First Quarter Earnings
iRobot released better-than-expected first quarter earnings after the close Thursday and reaffirmed its somewhat lukewarm expectations for the year. (2008 is the potential blockbuster year, with key military products including the PackBot SUGV Early and the iRobot Warrior driving sales).
"In Q1, we delivered our 11th consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth," said iRobot CEO Colin Angle. "Our financial performance in the quarter was on plan and consistent with our expectations. These results coupled with our excellent visibility for the rest of the year, particularly in our government business, give us a high level of confidence in meeting our first-half and full-year financial guidance. We are therefore reaffirming the guidance we provided on Feb. 12, 2007."
The company highlighted its Roomba product, saying that sales of the product were up both to stores and to consumers. But there was no mention of Scooba, which has been withdrawn from some storefronts (which the company said would happen at last quarter's conference call).
Revenue rose to $39.5 million, up from $38.2 million, which comes despite a tough comparison to last year's distribution of approximately 50,000 Scoobas (my rough estimate) of high-margin Scoobas in last year's first quarter channel fill.
Gross profit declined to $11.1 million from $12.2 million, which I imagine was due to the Scooba rollout.
Net loss rose to $5.5 million vs. $2.9 million -- but remember that the company is significantly larger than it was a year ago with a bigger cost structure as it ramps up spending to support future growth.
The company also mentioned its $2.8 million order for 22 PackBots from Germany, $14 million for 101 Fido PackBots, the introduction of the iRobot Verro pool cleaning robots, its new alliance with Boeing on the SUGV Early (which will be available for delivery in "mid-2008") and the naming of Sandra Lawrence president and GM of the Home Robots Division.
iRobot will host a conference call Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Robot Stock News will post notes after the conference call concludes.
Tags: iRobot, IRBT
"In Q1, we delivered our 11th consecutive quarter of year-over-year revenue growth," said iRobot CEO Colin Angle. "Our financial performance in the quarter was on plan and consistent with our expectations. These results coupled with our excellent visibility for the rest of the year, particularly in our government business, give us a high level of confidence in meeting our first-half and full-year financial guidance. We are therefore reaffirming the guidance we provided on Feb. 12, 2007."
The company highlighted its Roomba product, saying that sales of the product were up both to stores and to consumers. But there was no mention of Scooba, which has been withdrawn from some storefronts (which the company said would happen at last quarter's conference call).
Revenue rose to $39.5 million, up from $38.2 million, which comes despite a tough comparison to last year's distribution of approximately 50,000 Scoobas (my rough estimate) of high-margin Scoobas in last year's first quarter channel fill.
Gross profit declined to $11.1 million from $12.2 million, which I imagine was due to the Scooba rollout.
Net loss rose to $5.5 million vs. $2.9 million -- but remember that the company is significantly larger than it was a year ago with a bigger cost structure as it ramps up spending to support future growth.
The company also mentioned its $2.8 million order for 22 PackBots from Germany, $14 million for 101 Fido PackBots, the introduction of the iRobot Verro pool cleaning robots, its new alliance with Boeing on the SUGV Early (which will be available for delivery in "mid-2008") and the naming of Sandra Lawrence president and GM of the Home Robots Division.
iRobot will host a conference call Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Robot Stock News will post notes after the conference call concludes.
Tags: iRobot, IRBT
iRobot 1st Quarter 2007 Conference Call Notes -- New Scooba, 2 New Home Robots, iRobot Verro and more
iRobot just completed it's 1st Quarter conference call, where they said the company would still be announcing 2 new home robots in the second half of the year (apparently in addition to the iRobot Verro line of pool robots), that military robot sales have risen to 51 percent of overall sales with potential further growth due to the SUGV Early in 2008, the PackBot 501 in the second half of 2007, the iRobot Warrior in 2008 and the R-Gator starting in the second half of 2007.
Roomba sales and direct sales were robust, and although the Scooba suffered in comparisons to last year's rollout and has faced higher warranty costs than Roomba, the company announced the new iRobot Scooba 380 and said it would be featured in a new television informercial. Home robot sales were flat due to last year's Scooba rollout, but Roomba sell through was reportedly up 75 percent year over year and Roombas are now in more storefronts than they were a year ago. So much for it being a fad. And direct sales are now a large 27 percent for home robots. The company also confirmed its guidance for a small overall profit this year but continued to note accelerating profit momentum heading in the second half of 2007 and heading into 2008. I'm personally chipper.
Here are my notes from the CC:
Colin Angle:
11th consecurtive quarter of Y/Y revenue growth
Noted difficult comparison to Scooba launch
On plan
Visibility in government business for full year
Sustained growth in sales and demand for PackBots and Roomba...
Total Home Robot sell-through up
Strides toward increased annual profitability
Momentum into 2008
Substantial growth in military -- now 51 percent of revenue. 97 PackBots delivered. More than 900 delivered to date. Backlog grew to $30 million, up from $7.5 million
Ramping up production to meet demand
Captured 70 percent of military revenue for full-year in contracts already
Total home robots
Roomba sell through up 75 percent
Scooba sales significantly fewer leading to 16 percent decline in home robot revenue
Direct sales grew 57 percent Y/Y; 27 percent of home robot sales
Noted $2.8 million Germany contract for 22 PackBots won competitively. Follows on to last year's order and shows success in training.
U.S. Military sees value. Notes $16.6 million order for 101 Fido PackBots and the $14 million order for 101 iRobot PackBots. Military increasing demand.
iRobot PackBot 510 vastly improves competitive position and provides an opportunity for fleet upgrade. Faster, easier to use controls. Will be one of our key revenue drivers in the back half of the year.
iRobot Warrior on track for 2008. Fairfax County, Va., Capitol Hill, Army interested.
R-Gator Low rate production later this year.
SUGV development accelerated after successful tests. Soldiers very excited and eager. Announced strategic alliance with Boeing called SUGV Early available mid-2008. Approximately $3.6 million.
iRobot Roomba franchise is robust -- in more stores and sales up over last year...
Notes iRobot Verro 300 and Verro 600 pool cleaning robots. Level home robot seasonality in future years... Aqua Products long history of high quality. iRobot name only associated with highest quality products.
New home robot category to be offered on Amazon, Home Shopping Network and iRobot.
Introducing next generation iRobot Scooba 380. Faster, covers more area. April 30 informercial will start. Initially available on website, and stocked in retailers for the holidays.
Website launch new products.
Internationally, Europe channel -- U.K. office and expanding distribution. Strong in Korea and improving in Japan.
Added Sandra Lawrence to lead Home Robots. Gillette, Polaroid, Johnson & Johnson. An exciting time. Expanding portfolio of home robots.
Investment in R&D critical. Accelerating development of products. Increased revenue and profitable growth starting in second half of 2007.
Innovation engine.
Will continue to be more profitable.
Committed to maximizing shareholder value by improving profitability. (!)
Helen Greiner:
Notes Raytheon, Boeing, John Deere, etc.
Talks importance of Boeing alliance. Rapidly deliver SUGV. The potential market for this type of product is large -- initial FCS said to be 3,600 units (!).
Boeing will contribute systems integration and global marketing.
Partner where appropriate to bid on sizable programs.
"Although not under contract yet," Boeing and SAIC -- Lockheed Martin centralized controller for FCS -- iRobot is a key partner. Control MULE, SUGV and UAVs.
DARPA project -- Urban Challenge. Tactically significant unmanned ground vehicles, and rapid advancements being made. Our primary objective in participating is to move toward large unmanned systems.
Hope to accelerate the adoption of unmanned vehicles by the military.
Aqua Products Group gives them an incremental channel and gives iRobot a low-risk opportunity for growth.
Geoff Clear:
Revenues grew 3 percent to $39.5 million in spite of a tough comparable.
Gross margin down, overhead up, warranty costs, product mix worse and nickel costs up.
5.5 million loss vs. 2.9 million
Still expects 36-37 percent gross margin for the year.
Home Robots
129,000 units, about the same as the prior year. $19.4 million, down 16 percent due to last year's Scooba channel fill. $137/unit vs. $169/unit.
57 percent increase in home robot life cycle revenue.
Full year sales price per unit will be same as last year or slightly up.
$14.7 million Military sales -- 44 percent increase.
$30 million PackBot backlog, up significantly.
4 Factors hurting gross margins. Overhead costs increased to support growth and globalization. Higher warranty costs, especially international. Home Robots transition in Europe to direct distribution.
61 percent home robot to 49 percent.
Nickel costs rose -- batteries are the most expensive part of the home robots. Taken steps to mitigate.
R&D Spending as a percent of sales was 10.5 percent
Marketing was 20 percent, less spending on TV compared to Scooba rollout, more spending online, more spending on military marketing
Higher legal expenses for intellectual property, IT hirings, and strategic partnerships.
Operating loss up to 6.4 million vs. 3.8 million. $931,000 in other income from cash hoard.
Negligible tax rate. Assume 30 percent tax rate for full year.
Strong balance sheet with no debt.
Significant PackBot shipments in second quarter.
A strong quarter consistent with expectations and on plan. Confidence to confirm financial guidance: Revenues $225-235 million; 79-83M 1st Half; 146-153M in 2nd half. Taken steps to hedge against higher nickel prices; 11-12 million loss in first half; 14-15 million profit in second half.
Paul Coster of JPMorgan: % of home robots international. About 10 percent.
Margin giveup to Boeing? The primary purpose is timing oriented to bring our products to market earlier. Not significantly different gross margin target than we've discussed in the past.
New Home robots in back half? Colin Angle: Yes to 2 new home robots in back half.
Industrial robot? Angle: Haven't said that.
Threat? Greiner: Haven't seen anything that we consider a threat. Think other entrants (MSFT) will drive the industry forward. Angle: working very closely with universities and looking at emerging companies as potential companies for partnering...very exciting but can't say which tech. will be revolutionary at this point.
Acquisition? Greiner: Did not feel the need to rush into any acquisitions. Nothing to report on this call.
Jed (?): Dirt Dog? Angle: Good seller on our web site. Opportunity to bundle that robot with other robots. An active part of our overall strategy. That product's not going away. Clear: Don't break out individual volumes. Particular productive when we bundle with Roombas or Scoobas.
Warranty costs? Scooba? Clear: Scooba is a part of the warranty costs. The Scooba warranty costs are higher than the Roomba line. Probably pretty much in line with early Roomba warranty rates (eek!).
Selling a lot more of the PackBot EODs with added features? Greiner: Yes, but selling more FIDOs with higher prices.
Any updates on urban warfare, municipalities? Angle: Talking more about it. Last year did not have the sales force in place to address the first responder market. Now doubled sales force and partnering with Boeing (SUGV can meet needs of first responders).
Alex Hamilton of Benchmark: Impact of Supplemental Veto and early troop withdrawal on Packbot? Greiner: Robots have proven effective and no going back.
Next guy: Price of Scooba 380? Colin Angle: Roomba and Scooba 380 for approximately $450 (!). Roomba Model 410.
SUGV Early? Angle: Major difference from the PackBot is weight. Complete redesign of the PackBot.
New military contract for controlling (Lockheed): Clear: Small, not planning on disclosing at this time.
Next guy: 70% product for the year? Includes contract revenues that are under agreement?
Size of initial order for FCS in neighborhood of 3600? Greiner -- U.S. Army's stated requirement. Angle -- Not necessarily expectation of order for SUGV Early. Greiner -- looking at first responder, international market as well.
John Lynch: Nothing to report on industrial Roomba. Anecdotally? Angle: It's something that is often talked about and it's something that we get anecdotal comentary. You should not be surprised if at some point in the future we move into this area...it's a very large busines opportunity but not one we have made any announcements about at this point.
Roomba sales and direct sales were robust, and although the Scooba suffered in comparisons to last year's rollout and has faced higher warranty costs than Roomba, the company announced the new iRobot Scooba 380 and said it would be featured in a new television informercial. Home robot sales were flat due to last year's Scooba rollout, but Roomba sell through was reportedly up 75 percent year over year and Roombas are now in more storefronts than they were a year ago. So much for it being a fad. And direct sales are now a large 27 percent for home robots. The company also confirmed its guidance for a small overall profit this year but continued to note accelerating profit momentum heading in the second half of 2007 and heading into 2008. I'm personally chipper.
Here are my notes from the CC:
Colin Angle:
11th consecurtive quarter of Y/Y revenue growth
Noted difficult comparison to Scooba launch
On plan
Visibility in government business for full year
Sustained growth in sales and demand for PackBots and Roomba...
Total Home Robot sell-through up
Strides toward increased annual profitability
Momentum into 2008
Substantial growth in military -- now 51 percent of revenue. 97 PackBots delivered. More than 900 delivered to date. Backlog grew to $30 million, up from $7.5 million
Ramping up production to meet demand
Captured 70 percent of military revenue for full-year in contracts already
Total home robots
Roomba sell through up 75 percent
Scooba sales significantly fewer leading to 16 percent decline in home robot revenue
Direct sales grew 57 percent Y/Y; 27 percent of home robot sales
Noted $2.8 million Germany contract for 22 PackBots won competitively. Follows on to last year's order and shows success in training.
U.S. Military sees value. Notes $16.6 million order for 101 Fido PackBots and the $14 million order for 101 iRobot PackBots. Military increasing demand.
iRobot PackBot 510 vastly improves competitive position and provides an opportunity for fleet upgrade. Faster, easier to use controls. Will be one of our key revenue drivers in the back half of the year.
iRobot Warrior on track for 2008. Fairfax County, Va., Capitol Hill, Army interested.
R-Gator Low rate production later this year.
SUGV development accelerated after successful tests. Soldiers very excited and eager. Announced strategic alliance with Boeing called SUGV Early available mid-2008. Approximately $3.6 million.
iRobot Roomba franchise is robust -- in more stores and sales up over last year...
Notes iRobot Verro 300 and Verro 600 pool cleaning robots. Level home robot seasonality in future years... Aqua Products long history of high quality. iRobot name only associated with highest quality products.
New home robot category to be offered on Amazon, Home Shopping Network and iRobot.
Introducing next generation iRobot Scooba 380. Faster, covers more area. April 30 informercial will start. Initially available on website, and stocked in retailers for the holidays.
Website launch new products.
Internationally, Europe channel -- U.K. office and expanding distribution. Strong in Korea and improving in Japan.
Added Sandra Lawrence to lead Home Robots. Gillette, Polaroid, Johnson & Johnson. An exciting time. Expanding portfolio of home robots.
Investment in R&D critical. Accelerating development of products. Increased revenue and profitable growth starting in second half of 2007.
Innovation engine.
Will continue to be more profitable.
Committed to maximizing shareholder value by improving profitability. (!)
Helen Greiner:
Notes Raytheon, Boeing, John Deere, etc.
Talks importance of Boeing alliance. Rapidly deliver SUGV. The potential market for this type of product is large -- initial FCS said to be 3,600 units (!).
Boeing will contribute systems integration and global marketing.
Partner where appropriate to bid on sizable programs.
"Although not under contract yet," Boeing and SAIC -- Lockheed Martin centralized controller for FCS -- iRobot is a key partner. Control MULE, SUGV and UAVs.
DARPA project -- Urban Challenge. Tactically significant unmanned ground vehicles, and rapid advancements being made. Our primary objective in participating is to move toward large unmanned systems.
Hope to accelerate the adoption of unmanned vehicles by the military.
Aqua Products Group gives them an incremental channel and gives iRobot a low-risk opportunity for growth.
Geoff Clear:
Revenues grew 3 percent to $39.5 million in spite of a tough comparable.
Gross margin down, overhead up, warranty costs, product mix worse and nickel costs up.
5.5 million loss vs. 2.9 million
Still expects 36-37 percent gross margin for the year.
Home Robots
129,000 units, about the same as the prior year. $19.4 million, down 16 percent due to last year's Scooba channel fill. $137/unit vs. $169/unit.
57 percent increase in home robot life cycle revenue.
Full year sales price per unit will be same as last year or slightly up.
$14.7 million Military sales -- 44 percent increase.
$30 million PackBot backlog, up significantly.
4 Factors hurting gross margins. Overhead costs increased to support growth and globalization. Higher warranty costs, especially international. Home Robots transition in Europe to direct distribution.
61 percent home robot to 49 percent.
Nickel costs rose -- batteries are the most expensive part of the home robots. Taken steps to mitigate.
R&D Spending as a percent of sales was 10.5 percent
Marketing was 20 percent, less spending on TV compared to Scooba rollout, more spending online, more spending on military marketing
Higher legal expenses for intellectual property, IT hirings, and strategic partnerships.
Operating loss up to 6.4 million vs. 3.8 million. $931,000 in other income from cash hoard.
Negligible tax rate. Assume 30 percent tax rate for full year.
Strong balance sheet with no debt.
Significant PackBot shipments in second quarter.
A strong quarter consistent with expectations and on plan. Confidence to confirm financial guidance: Revenues $225-235 million; 79-83M 1st Half; 146-153M in 2nd half. Taken steps to hedge against higher nickel prices; 11-12 million loss in first half; 14-15 million profit in second half.
Paul Coster of JPMorgan: % of home robots international. About 10 percent.
Margin giveup to Boeing? The primary purpose is timing oriented to bring our products to market earlier. Not significantly different gross margin target than we've discussed in the past.
New Home robots in back half? Colin Angle: Yes to 2 new home robots in back half.
Industrial robot? Angle: Haven't said that.
Threat? Greiner: Haven't seen anything that we consider a threat. Think other entrants (MSFT) will drive the industry forward. Angle: working very closely with universities and looking at emerging companies as potential companies for partnering...very exciting but can't say which tech. will be revolutionary at this point.
Acquisition? Greiner: Did not feel the need to rush into any acquisitions. Nothing to report on this call.
Jed (?): Dirt Dog? Angle: Good seller on our web site. Opportunity to bundle that robot with other robots. An active part of our overall strategy. That product's not going away. Clear: Don't break out individual volumes. Particular productive when we bundle with Roombas or Scoobas.
Warranty costs? Scooba? Clear: Scooba is a part of the warranty costs. The Scooba warranty costs are higher than the Roomba line. Probably pretty much in line with early Roomba warranty rates (eek!).
Selling a lot more of the PackBot EODs with added features? Greiner: Yes, but selling more FIDOs with higher prices.
Any updates on urban warfare, municipalities? Angle: Talking more about it. Last year did not have the sales force in place to address the first responder market. Now doubled sales force and partnering with Boeing (SUGV can meet needs of first responders).
Alex Hamilton of Benchmark: Impact of Supplemental Veto and early troop withdrawal on Packbot? Greiner: Robots have proven effective and no going back.
Next guy: Price of Scooba 380? Colin Angle: Roomba and Scooba 380 for approximately $450 (!). Roomba Model 410.
SUGV Early? Angle: Major difference from the PackBot is weight. Complete redesign of the PackBot.
New military contract for controlling (Lockheed): Clear: Small, not planning on disclosing at this time.
Next guy: 70% product for the year? Includes contract revenues that are under agreement?
Size of initial order for FCS in neighborhood of 3600? Greiner -- U.S. Army's stated requirement. Angle -- Not necessarily expectation of order for SUGV Early. Greiner -- looking at first responder, international market as well.
John Lynch: Nothing to report on industrial Roomba. Anecdotally? Angle: It's something that is often talked about and it's something that we get anecdotal comentary. You should not be surprised if at some point in the future we move into this area...it's a very large busines opportunity but not one we have made any announcements about at this point.
iRobot Scooba 380 and Scooba 350 Released!
BREAKING: iRobot has released the next-generation iRobot Scooba 380 for $499. (NEW PRICE CUT 4/10/08! Now $449!) It cleans 850 square feet, unlike the 250 square feet for the Scooba 5800, and does so by cleaning faster and more efficiently. (The Scooba 380 is also known as model 6050). Save 10% on all accessories with our exclusive coupon code RSN10 at Checkout!
The Scooba 380 has been selling well (having starred in some well-received TV infomercials) and had briefly sold out. But the Scooba 380 is now in stock and ready for immediate shipment.
The new iRobot Scooba 350 also has the faster cleaning technology and is $399, but cleans 500 square feet. (Also known as model 6000).
The company has discontinued the Scooba 5900.
More Scooba deals (as low as $199) are available in our Scooba buyer's guide.
The Scooba 380 has been selling well (having starred in some well-received TV infomercials) and had briefly sold out. But the Scooba 380 is now in stock and ready for immediate shipment.
The new iRobot Scooba 350 also has the faster cleaning technology and is $399, but cleans 500 square feet. (Also known as model 6000).
The company has discontinued the Scooba 5900.
More Scooba deals (as low as $199) are available in our Scooba buyer's guide.
iRobot's Rodney Brooks in extensive new interview
Talking Robots in Switzerland has posted an extensive Podcast interview with iRobot co-founder Rodney Brooks.
Brooks talks extensively about what he sees in the future of robotics, about the early origins and growing pains of iRobot, the growth of Korean robotics companies, and a lot more. As we've noted before, he is stepping down as head of MIT's legendary robotics lab in June to take a sabbatical.
Tags: iRobot, Rodney+Brooks
Brooks talks extensively about what he sees in the future of robotics, about the early origins and growing pains of iRobot, the growth of Korean robotics companies, and a lot more. As we've noted before, he is stepping down as head of MIT's legendary robotics lab in June to take a sabbatical.
Tags: iRobot, Rodney+Brooks
Battlefield Extraction Robots Profiled
iRobot is noted as developing them as well (using the iRobot Warrior).
Here is the link.
Tags: iRobot, robot
Here is the link.
Tags: iRobot, robot
Robots making robots
Popular Science profiles a roboticist working on what appears to be a crude approximation of Star Trek Replicator technology -- well, not quite that sophisticated of course -- but basically a home-fab machine that automatically synthesizes materials into objects, including robots, based on computer instructions. The idea is that space-faring folks could simply take one of these "fabbers" to Mars and simply "print" new robots, complete with batteries et al, from raw source materials.
Genius.
Tags: robots, robot
Genius.
Tags: robots, robot
Robots making robots
Popular Science profiles a roboticist working on what appears to be a crude approximation of Star Trek Replicator technology -- well, not quite that sophisticated of course -- but basically a home-fab machine that automatically synthesizes materials into objects, including robots, based on computer instructions. The idea is that space-faring folks could simply take one of these "fabbers" to Mars and simply "print" new robots, complete with batteries et al, from raw source materials.
Genius.
Tags: robots, robot
Genius.
Tags: robots, robot
The iRobot PackBot: So easy to use, an 8-year-old can do it (really)
The PackBot recently was successfully field-tested by 8-year-olds on the National Mall, according to this report.
Tags: iRobot, PackBot
Tags: iRobot, PackBot
iRobot robots, competitors featured in Boston Globe
Boston Globe reporter Hiawatha Bray has a story on the surging robotics industry in Massachusetts, including iRobot.
She also profiles the LandShark robot, a 250-pound competitor to the PackBot that costs $25,000.
The LandShark will be unveiled at this week's Robobusiness Conference. Wondering if iRobot will debut anything?
Tags: iRobot, PackBot, robots
She also profiles the LandShark robot, a 250-pound competitor to the PackBot that costs $25,000.
The LandShark will be unveiled at this week's Robobusiness Conference. Wondering if iRobot will debut anything?
Tags: iRobot, PackBot, robots
New Roomba For Pets Released
iRobot has gone upscale with two new Roomba pet hair models, the base Roomba for Pets (Maroon) for $299 (just $239 SHIPPED through the link with MSPORT coupon code at checkout) and the new top-of-the-line Roomba for Pets with Intelli-Bin for $369. (Or $295 SHIPPED after 20% off MSPORT coupon code).
As with previous generation Roomba for Pets models, these are available exclusively direct from iRobot, and appear to be another attempt at extending the brand toward more expensive models. This is the most expensive Roomba to date.
The Roomba for Pets models feature an Easy Clean Brush that helps prevent hair bunching and tangling and is, as its name implies, easier to clean. The cheaper Roomba Sage for Pets, which had retailed for $219 but lacked a self-charging home base, has been discontinued. (iRobot also sells a $40 upgrade kit through the links above that turn any model Roomba into a "Roomba for Pets.")
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
As with previous generation Roomba for Pets models, these are available exclusively direct from iRobot, and appear to be another attempt at extending the brand toward more expensive models. This is the most expensive Roomba to date.
The Roomba for Pets models feature an Easy Clean Brush that helps prevent hair bunching and tangling and is, as its name implies, easier to clean. The cheaper Roomba Sage for Pets, which had retailed for $219 but lacked a self-charging home base, has been discontinued. (iRobot also sells a $40 upgrade kit through the links above that turn any model Roomba into a "Roomba for Pets.")
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
$5,000 prize offered for iRobot Create creation
Details of the contest are at Tom's Hardware Guide. Second place is one of each of iRobot's top-of-the-line floor robots.
iRobot Co-Founder Rodney Brooks featured on CNET
CNET posts an extensive interview with Rodney Brooks on the future of robotics (seems like everybody is doing that these days, doesn't it?) Even if you've read all the others, I found this insightful. He talks about his role at iRobot a bit and how he separates that from his academic work.
Tags: iRobot, Rodney Brooks
Tags: iRobot, Rodney Brooks
Will Microsoft Buy iRobot?
I don't think so, but TheStreet.com lists iRobot as the No. 1 company that Microsoft should gobble up. While always a possibility, I think Mister Softee would have a very hard time persuading the founders and insiders who control the stock to give up their own dream of turning iRobot into a powerhouse unto itself. The pressure of having to perform as a startup without the warm embrace of Redmond can yield strokes of genius, like the Roomba. Anybody try a Zune lately?
Sure, Microsoft has invested in robotics and created the Microsoft Robotics Studio, and Bill Gates has even penned a cover story for Scientific American in which he pronounces robotics as the Next Big Thing. But...
I still don't see it, not for a few years at least. If it does, I'd expect Microsoft to only be interested in the consumer side of the business, and sell off the military side to a major defense contractor.
(Sorry I'm a little late getting to this).
Tags: iRobot
Sure, Microsoft has invested in robotics and created the Microsoft Robotics Studio, and Bill Gates has even penned a cover story for Scientific American in which he pronounces robotics as the Next Big Thing. But...
I still don't see it, not for a few years at least. If it does, I'd expect Microsoft to only be interested in the consumer side of the business, and sell off the military side to a major defense contractor.
(Sorry I'm a little late getting to this).
Tags: iRobot
Roomba battery $39.99 shipped
Amazon has the best deal I've seen for the Roomba Advanced Power System Battery, just $39.99 with Free Shipping.
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
iRobot featured at Robobusiness Conference in Boston
Hiawatha Bray at the Boston Globe reports on iRobot and other robot companies at the Robobusiness Conference in Boston.
Lance Ulanoff blogs about Robobusiness at PCMag.
Ulanoff notes the naming of the four new members of the Robot Hall of Fame, including Commander Data from Star Trek.
Tags: iRobot, robot
Lance Ulanoff blogs about Robobusiness at PCMag.
Ulanoff notes the naming of the four new members of the Robot Hall of Fame, including Commander Data from Star Trek.
Tags: iRobot, robot
iRobot to participate in JPMorgan Conference
A 35-minute Q&A with iRobot Chairwoman Helen Greiner and CFO Geoff Clear at a JPMorgan conference will be webcast live May 21 at 10 a.m.
Tags: iRobot
Tags: iRobot
Zacks Puts iRobot atop its Buy List!
Zacks put iRobot atop its Buy List this morning! Here's the blurb:
"Aggressive Growth – iRobot Corporation (Nasdaq: IRBT)
iRobot Corporation bested first-quarter estimates by almost 21%, prompting analysts to raise this year's and next year's numbers. Over the past month, this year's estimates have increased 28% to nine cents per share, while next year's numbers have risen 8% to 27 cents per share. The company has no debt which is impressive for such a young and growing firm."
Looks like Wall Street is starting to notice that iRobot is one cool company on sale. No debt, growing sales, a new fleet of military robots, new home robots on the way.
Tags: iRobot
"Aggressive Growth – iRobot Corporation (Nasdaq: IRBT)
iRobot Corporation bested first-quarter estimates by almost 21%, prompting analysts to raise this year's and next year's numbers. Over the past month, this year's estimates have increased 28% to nine cents per share, while next year's numbers have risen 8% to 27 cents per share. The company has no debt which is impressive for such a young and growing firm."
Looks like Wall Street is starting to notice that iRobot is one cool company on sale. No debt, growing sales, a new fleet of military robots, new home robots on the way.
Tags: iRobot
Helen Greiner reiterates new robots a comin'
The JPMorgan webcast is available here, and engadget reports on it here. The new robots will have "mechanical features." Er, we knew that. Greiner said they want to have real launches for the new products instead of just dribble out details. (That seems to bode well for significant products). There also is a chance of moving in to Wal-Mart (Roomba 400 anyone?) Nothing else really new here I heard. The new iRobot Warrior is a key driver in 2008, new marketing chief also is exciting given the need to transform Roomba from niche to maintream. Greiner noted the tweak in guidance that they have more of a bias towards booking profits instead of reinvesting all proceeds into the business. CFO Geoff Clear said target is 40 percent gross profit margin. Around 37 percent now. Hope to leverage operating expenses in future to boost pretax operating margin to mid-teens, etc.
Also of note, iRobot has a analyst day May 30 and another conference June 12, so management is clearly focused on boosting investor confidence and, hopefully, the stock price. So far it seems to be working, as the stock has bounced about 30 percent off of its lows.
Tags: iRobot, robot
Also of note, iRobot has a analyst day May 30 and another conference June 12, so management is clearly focused on boosting investor confidence and, hopefully, the stock price. So far it seems to be working, as the stock has bounced about 30 percent off of its lows.
Tags: iRobot, robot
Pleo Robot coming soon
Ugobe sent me an email talking up the forthcoming release of the long-delayed Pleo robot, also announcing that it will include a rechargeable and replaceable battery (smart!). People who sign up at Ugobe's web page will have first crack at the toy, expected to cost $249 or so.
Tags: Ugobe, Pleo
Tags: Ugobe, Pleo
Pleo Robot coming soon
Ugobe sent me an email talking up the forthcoming release of the long-delayed Pleo robot, also announcing that it will include a rechargeable and replaceable battery (smart!). People who sign up at Ugobe's web page will have first crack at the toy, expected to cost $249 or so.
Tags: Ugobe, Pleo
Tags: Ugobe, Pleo
Seeking Alpha post on iRobot
An article over at Seeking Alpha found more to like from the JPMorgan presentation by iRobot Chairwoman Helen Greiner than I did, but the writer is new to the company so it was all news to him.
Tags: iRobot, robot
Tags: iRobot, robot
iRobot offering REDOWL sniper-detecting robot for sale -- Will the Army buy it?
iRobot's REDOWL sniper-detecting PackBot is available in "Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) quantities of 20 to 40 units, with the first deliveries available six months from receipt of the order," according to iRobot. The question is, will anybody buy it? The specialized prototype would seem perfect if you are facing a likely sniper situation, but will a soldier have time to go get the robot, then bring it in, then send in the robot, then figure out from the robot where the sniper is, etc.?
I'd imagine that when they add the capability of firing back with precision -- which has been talked about previously -- these PackBots will be much more desirable...
Tags: iRobot, PackBot
iRobot offers PackBot 510 for Engineers
iRobot is now selling a new configuration of its next-generation PackBot 510 robot with an engineer kit that features a new thermal imaging camera and ordnance lifting gear (it can lift a 155mm shell). Not sure how much extra iRobot will charge for the extra features, but presumably the new configuration came from feedback from the military.
Tags: iRobot, PackBot
San Jose Mercury News reviews Roomba, Scooba and Dirt Dog
The San Jose reviewer loves the Roomba lifestyle, although the wife would prefer it to be a little quieter.
That's the advantage of Roomba and Scooba -- once you have it set up, you can turn it on and go do something else.
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
That's the advantage of Roomba and Scooba -- once you have it set up, you can turn it on and go do something else.
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
Meet iRobot's team
iRobot's web page has a series of quotes and pics of some of its talented engineers and workers, including one working on a future domestic robot.
In other tidbits I saw, there are now 24 job listings -- about average -- and more than 1,000 posts on the iRobot Create forums. Maybe they will actually sell 1,000 of the little guys?
In other tidbits I saw, there are now 24 job listings -- about average -- and more than 1,000 posts on the iRobot Create forums. Maybe they will actually sell 1,000 of the little guys?
iRobot investor day reminder
Don't forget, iRobot will be holding a 3-hour "analyst day" webcast May 30 from 9 a.m. to noon EST at this link. Should be interesting -- why else devote 3 hours of everybody's time? (And likely lots of prep work by the staff.) The company obviously feels that Wall Street simply does not understand this stock, and I agree. It will be interesting to see if the company changes any of its guidance and/or gives hints of upcoming products (similar to the chart they posted earlier that showed a robotic lawnmower and a pool cleaning robot). I will post a summary at some point after the event, but likely not until the evening. Feel free to respond to this post in the comments during the event with your thoughts.
Tags: iRobot
Tags: iRobot
New iRobot Roomba 510, Roomba 530, Roomba 560 Models on the Way!
UPDATED: New iRobot Roomba 510, Roomba 530 and Roomba 560 Models will be released in September and feature upgraded navigation, an optional Lighthouse feature to remember which rooms it has cleaned, vastly improved reliability, easier cleaning, and, possibly, an automatic emptying option, according to a mystery poster at Roomba Review. (The original post was later deleted at the poster's request.)
NEW UPDATE 8/21/07!: The new Roombas HAVE BEEN RELEASED.
Earlier: He shows pics of a Red model, and lists prices: $299 Canadian for Roomba 510, $349-$399 for the Roomba 530 and $399-$449 for the top of the line Roomba 560. The poster, named "Arsenic" had earlier called the model numbers Roomba 520, Roomba 530 and Roomba 540.
The posts, which are accompanied by photos but still only qualify as rumor, states that the new Roomba models will work an average of 1500 hours of use, versus 350 hours for the current generation. The poster also talks of upgraded virtual walls that will turn themselves on and a snazzy, reworked user interface.
The information is allegedly from an insider but has not been confirmed by the company. Will it be discussed at tomorrow's analyst day? Will iRobot try and find/punish the leaker? Will it dampen sales of existing Roombas? Will it be accompanied by an increase in the price, a la the new Scooba 380? Will a lower-end Discovery series Roomba still remain, such as the Roomba 400, for the Wal-Mart crowd?
All very exciting, if it's true.
Tags: iRobot, robot, Roomba
iRobot to Demo military robots at National Press Club
iRobot will show off its growing array of military hardware at the National Press Club on June 6, featuring test drives and marking the delivery of the 1,000th iRobot PackBot.
Here's the press release:
Press Release Source: iRobot Corp.
iRobot to Demonstrate Life-Saving Military Robots at National Press Club
Wednesday May 30, 3:48 pm ET
Robot Test Drive and Demo Event Marks 1,000th PackBot Delivered
--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iRobot Corp.:
WHAT: iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ:IRBT - News) will demonstrate its full line of
life-saving military robots for media and VIP guests at a
robot "test drive and demo day" marking the delivery of the
1,000th iRobot PackBot(R) robot. See demonstrations up close,
speak with soldiers who have used robots in combat, test drive
and manipulate the following robots through challenging
situations and obstacle courses:
-- The life-saving iRobot PackBot 510 robot, featuring
iRobot's newest hand controller innovation: a
videogame-style controller for today's generation of
soldiers
-- The iRobot PackBot EOD for discovering and disarming
improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the biggest threat to
our troops in Iraq
-- The iRobot PackBot with ICx Fido payload (by ICx Nomadics),
a bomb-sniffing robot that can detect unseen explosives by
their vapors
-- The iRobot PackBot with RedOwl Advanced Sniper Detection
System, which can detect and locate snipers and mortars on
the very first shot fired at personnel or vehicles
-- The iRobot Warrior(TM), a powerful and rugged 250-pound
robot ideal for the toughest field missions, including
explosive ordnance disposal, battlefield casualty
extraction and firefighting
-- The iRobot John Deere R-Gator(TM) autonomous unmanned
ground vehicle, designed for use as a scout, perimeter
guard or supply carrier.
WHO: iRobot is a leader in behavior-based robots that deliver new
and better ways of tackling dull, dirty or dangerous tasks.
iRobot PackBot robots have performed tens of thousands of
missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and are credited with saving
soldiers' lives. Visit iRobot at www.irobot.com.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 6, 2007, agenda as follows
0830 Call to Order
0835 Welcome, Vice Admiral Joe Dyer (U.S. Navy, Ret.),
president, iRobot
0840 Opening Remarks, Helen Greiner, co-founder and
chairman, iRobot
0845 Special Guest
0850 A Soldier's Tale, Sgt. Tommy Rieman, America's Army
Real Hero
0900-1100 Robot demonstrations and test drives
WHERE: National Press Club Ballroom, 529 14th Street NW, Washington,
D.C.
Tags: iRobot
Here's the press release:
Press Release Source: iRobot Corp.
iRobot to Demonstrate Life-Saving Military Robots at National Press Club
Wednesday May 30, 3:48 pm ET
Robot Test Drive and Demo Event Marks 1,000th PackBot Delivered
--(BUSINESS WIRE)--iRobot Corp.:
WHAT: iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ:IRBT - News) will demonstrate its full line of
life-saving military robots for media and VIP guests at a
robot "test drive and demo day" marking the delivery of the
1,000th iRobot PackBot(R) robot. See demonstrations up close,
speak with soldiers who have used robots in combat, test drive
and manipulate the following robots through challenging
situations and obstacle courses:
-- The life-saving iRobot PackBot 510 robot, featuring
iRobot's newest hand controller innovation: a
videogame-style controller for today's generation of
soldiers
-- The iRobot PackBot EOD for discovering and disarming
improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the biggest threat to
our troops in Iraq
-- The iRobot PackBot with ICx Fido payload (by ICx Nomadics),
a bomb-sniffing robot that can detect unseen explosives by
their vapors
-- The iRobot PackBot with RedOwl Advanced Sniper Detection
System, which can detect and locate snipers and mortars on
the very first shot fired at personnel or vehicles
-- The iRobot Warrior(TM), a powerful and rugged 250-pound
robot ideal for the toughest field missions, including
explosive ordnance disposal, battlefield casualty
extraction and firefighting
-- The iRobot John Deere R-Gator(TM) autonomous unmanned
ground vehicle, designed for use as a scout, perimeter
guard or supply carrier.
WHO: iRobot is a leader in behavior-based robots that deliver new
and better ways of tackling dull, dirty or dangerous tasks.
iRobot PackBot robots have performed tens of thousands of
missions in Iraq and Afghanistan and are credited with saving
soldiers' lives. Visit iRobot at www.irobot.com.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 6, 2007, agenda as follows
0830 Call to Order
0835 Welcome, Vice Admiral Joe Dyer (U.S. Navy, Ret.),
president, iRobot
0840 Opening Remarks, Helen Greiner, co-founder and
chairman, iRobot
0845 Special Guest
0850 A Soldier's Tale, Sgt. Tommy Rieman, America's Army
Real Hero
0900-1100 Robot demonstrations and test drives
WHERE: National Press Club Ballroom, 529 14th Street NW, Washington,
D.C.
Tags: iRobot
iRobot Investor Day update
iRobot's leadership is currently webcasting a 3-hour analyst day. Everybody should probably listen to this at some point.
iRobot Chairwoman Helen Greiner: Have about 400 Employees. Global company. Home and military. Over 2.5 million home units. A better way to get the job done. Under couches, under beds, and oh by the way, you don't have to push them around. Over 900 PackBot robots. Saving dozens and dozens of soldiers' lives. Taking on dull, dirty and dangerous jobs. "This is really just the beginning of a whole new industry in robotics."
Vacuums alone are a $3.4 billion market segment, half over $150. Congress: Half of all ground vehicles should be unmanned. $4 billion market.
A whole line of home and military robots that will come out in the 2008 time frame.
Homeland security, law enforcement, light industrial applications. Future industrial applications. (I wonder what?)
Colin Angle talked initially about the company being cutting edge and "designed as an innovation engine," with 40 patents and 50 more pending, with a "team of roboticists second to none." And 15-18 percent of revenue going to R&D.
On the military side, he noted having consistent controls, etc., across platforms ranging from the 30 pound SUGV to the 1500 pound R-Gator.
The plan is to broaden uses from bomb disposal and checkpoints to core Army.
Excited about Boeing SUGV Early partnership.
Work with many of the leading military contractors.
Global company. Substantial investments all around the globe.
On the consumer side, Angle bragged on Roomba. Deeper penetration.
"For your routine maintenance of your home, you are a neanderthal if you clean your home with an upright."
Will not discuss mysterious 2 new products due in second half, but said they will discuss later outdoor products and "even light commercial applications."
"Our challenge is picking and choosing among our opportunities.
"Committed not just on top line growth but growing bottom line profit."
Solid with Roomba and PackBot leading the way. Just the beginning.
"I like where we are today, I love where we are going to be in a very short amount of time."
Military panel:
Vice Admiral (Ret.) Joe Dyer, Capt. Robert "Knob" Moses (former director of contracts at Naval Air Systems Command), Jim Rymarcsuk (former Lockheed and Rolls Royce) Exec.
Dyer talked about the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles coming on quicker now, and Unmanned Ground Vehicles are coming on faster, growing quicker and following in time with unmanned underwater systems and unmanned service system.
Embracing of aerial and underwater systems and "be a player in the integration of all of those systems going forward."
Talks about "Crossing the Chasm." First adopters buying iPhone. Government labs, thinktanks, etc. are in the first adopter category. But to cross the chasm, need reliability, supply chain, et al boring stuff but required. "We are building bridges across the chasm."
Eventually annuity develops. The vast majority of the money -- up to 60 percent -- in sustaining lifetime support.
Army experimentation well to influence procurement systems.
Fort Benning experiments. In 2005, 30 technologies at play. UAVs, UGVs, et al. In 2006, over 40 technologies used in mock battlefield.
Great question posed in 2005 to the young captain in command of the experimental force:
"Of all these technologies and all of these systems, if you could pick just one, what would you take directly into service? His answer without a moment's hesitation, was 'Sir, the iRobot PackBot.'"
In 2006, which three systems would you take into service?: The answer this time was the Raven, the xx buster?, and the PackBot.
"I wanted situational awareness, I wanted it from the air, I wanted it from the ground and I wanted it reliable."
Knob Moses: Customer focus. The bomb disposal mission is really scratching the surface. We see the potential to go well beyond bomb disposal to many new markets. Next closest -- combat engineers, chem/bio and others. Very similar to EOD and order of magnitude larger than EOD. Another order of magnitude growth in overall infantry. See robot in every infantry squad and every SWAT team. Growing additional payloads onto the PackBot platform. First 100 FIDO bomb sniffing PackBots for Iraqi police this quarter. New Engineer robot. Can do many roles that combat engineers do. RedOwl sniper detection. New platforms -- SUGV and iRobot Warrior that open up larger applications. Expanding foothold in international marketplace. Europe. Asia.
Company slide sees potential for 5-year sales of 10,000-20,000 SUGVs (!!!), 2,000-3,000 PackBots, 500-1,000 Warriors, and 200-400 Intelligent Vehicles including R-Gator and "unmanned small boats." (!)
Dyer: Points out "hand-held bomb sniffer" as an oxymoron. Made for robots.
By the end of 2008, the company will go from 4 military products to 10 military products (!) "Much, much more robust" product line with iRobot Warrior (capable of running a 3 minute mile for over 25 miles) and SUGV: "This is the robot that takes military robots from hundreds to thousands." Stresses modularity, upgradeability, future upgrades to controllers, etc.
Stresses iRobot Aware robotic development software architecture, willing to license to competitors. Others have to waste time building systems from scratch.
There is a sea chance in Future Combat Systems. From transformation to modernization. Take the things that really work.
Army Chief of Staff testified to the House Armed Services Committee, the iRobot SUGV was in the room between the Members and the Chief of Staff.
SUGV accelerated from 2012 to potentially 2008.
Several video testimonials from soldiers. "Next time we need to bring some of this equipment with us, especially the SUGVs." "I don't know what this robot costs, but I know how much a soldier costs, and you can't put an amount of money on that."
Home Robots:
Parts of Scooba 380 infomercial shown. Launched at end of April. 28 minutes. 30 second spots don't fully explain Scooba. Enhanced consumer awareness and benefit, drive direct sales and help secure 2nd Half Placement. "Very Strong Results."
More international direct sales. Expand with retail partners overseas. Europe, Middle East and Africa. London iRobot office opened. Direct in Europe. Launch eCommerce for international. New Hong Kong office. Considering direct in Far East. Canada, expanding retail storefronts and warehousing. Costco Canada. Zeller's and The Bay in 2nd Half. 91% increase in Canada sales.
Verro pool cleaning robot. Asked by customers "Where is your pool cleaning robot?" Very strong positive initial results. Initial HSN 113 percent exceeding dollars per minute target. Exceeded Amazon's expectations. 8 Million pools in the U.S.
Focused on improving quality and life cycle, doubled investment. Roomba product life has doubled since 2004 (according to chart). 2nd Manufacturing facility in Far East in 3rd Quarter '07 with capacity of 35,000 per week(!) with Kin Yat Holdings Limited. Talking with other manufacturers as well. Chart shows improved cleaning shortly (ED: NEW ROOMBAS, I presume), and on Whole House Navigation. "We are working on it." Also improving interaction with people.
Sandy Lawrence, the new Home Robots director, talked of crossing the chasm on digital cameras and said she sees that happening with iRobot.
FINANCIAL:
CFO Geoff Clear noted focus of unexpected revenue will go to the bottom line instead of more R&D. Fairly high level of confidence "top range" of revenue number for first half. Leave in place 2nd half guidance. $225-235 Million overall. Anticipate direct sales could become 1/3rd or so given today's products. Quality improvements will cut return and warranty costs.
Q&A:
Q: Cleaning bottom of hulls of ships?
Joe: An area of interest, not been involved in so far.
Q: Licensing and royalties?
Colin: Guidance does not assume a major licensing of software revenue. Not modeled. Exciting.
Q: Sale of Aware?
Colin: Strategy -- Want third parties to work with us on our platform. Our partners can use it. It's an enabler for higher functioning robots. No announcements at this time of it being a standalone product.
Q: Cash guidance?
Geoff: Burned $5 million cash last year because of change in inventory to just-in-time. This year expect $70 million cash hoard to go down as second half inventory builds, then go back up for sales. Notes possibility of investment activity.
Q: SUGV and Iraq?
Joe: SUGV not tied to Iraq. EOD certainly is war related, though see international, domestic and reserves markets.
Q: Price sensitivity of military to cost of SUGV and PackBots. Selling price for SUGV?
Joe: Expect $100,000 price point for SUGV possible. Watching Army budget. Expect next spring, early summer before we see an identifiable budget line dealing with SUGV.
Q: Network warfare?
Joe: Working on robots having a better knowledge of the world around them.
Q:
Colin: Batteries, WiFi, User Interface changes -- PS2 game controllers in the soldiers' hands.
Q: Terms between IRBT and Boeing?
Geoff: Can't tell a lot. They will fund $3.6 million on SUGV Early over the next several quarters.
Q: Gross margin impact of nickel costs, Chinese currency strengthening?
Geoff: Quite focused on nickel. Meetings with battery suppliers. Trying to reduce nickel usage. Reflected in guidance. Clearly a risk point. Very fortunate in that all of our business is denominated in dollars.
Q: Dirt Dog? Father's Day?
Matt: Dirt Dog is going to be a focus for Father's Day. Some promotions with Dirt Dog, extending to Father's Day. Exploring different opportunities with retailers. "Forthcoming."
Q: Who trains soldiers on PackBots?
Knob: Do provide training and train the trainer program.
Q: Home robots higher Average selling prices expected? Increase in direct sales or newer products at higher price points?
Geoff: A number of offsetting factors. ASPs down $30 in first quarter substantially due to Scooba launch in 2006. Return rates could be favorable for ASPs. Verro will have some impact. Can't talk about new products ASPs. Longer term -- Bath Bots - probably lower ASPs. Core Roomba prices are pretty much holding.
Q: Roomba?
A: More sales of the higher priced Roombas, particularly direct.
Q: 50:50 military/home?
Geoff: Probably in 2nd Q, don't talk about 2nd Half breakdown...
Q: Low end of 2nd half vs. high end of 2nd half? What factors?
Geoff: Always shifts in shipping products. FIDO shiftments uncertain on timing. If in 2nd Qtr., could reduce 3rd Qtr.
Q: Long term PLR? Part of contract or add-on?
Jim: Add-on. Hand controller noted. Getting the robots to be used even more to boost aftermarket $$$.
Q: Synergies with home/military? Reasonable penetration for floor cleaning in next five years?
Helen: Synergies increasing. Military first to use technologies, consumer second. Susan: We have an insignificant share of vacuum. Some of leaders have 35-40 percent of the market. Certainly a lot more than we currently have.
Q: If you could really cut prices, could you really substantially increase penetration?
Susan: 1) How low can I go to interest more people. 2) Portfolio of products with different price points.
Colin: Dyson did not take the dominant position in the vacuum cleaning industry by cutting price. Death spiral of cheaper and cheaper and cheaper. Focused on what customers want and raising confidence that robots can do the job effectively. Over time have seen the ability to raise prices. "The vast majority of our robots are being sold at increasingly higher prices." We are clearly focused on making better robots and getting our customers to appreciate we have better robots.
Q: Weapons? Anti-suicide bomber? Sniper?
Joe: Military divided. Like putting a gun on a passenger airplane or not. Half think you should and half think you shouldn't. Think we will see armed robots. Robots give the infantry the potential to shoot second. Go into an area where they have to make a split second decision of whether to fire or not, can be wrong. Can take a better look before acting.
Q: Current year Roomba growth? Penetration or international?
Susan: Roomba penetration. We are at the tipping point.
More to come...
Tags: iRobot, robot
iRobot Chairwoman Helen Greiner: Have about 400 Employees. Global company. Home and military. Over 2.5 million home units. A better way to get the job done. Under couches, under beds, and oh by the way, you don't have to push them around. Over 900 PackBot robots. Saving dozens and dozens of soldiers' lives. Taking on dull, dirty and dangerous jobs. "This is really just the beginning of a whole new industry in robotics."
Vacuums alone are a $3.4 billion market segment, half over $150. Congress: Half of all ground vehicles should be unmanned. $4 billion market.
A whole line of home and military robots that will come out in the 2008 time frame.
Homeland security, law enforcement, light industrial applications. Future industrial applications. (I wonder what?)
Colin Angle talked initially about the company being cutting edge and "designed as an innovation engine," with 40 patents and 50 more pending, with a "team of roboticists second to none." And 15-18 percent of revenue going to R&D.
On the military side, he noted having consistent controls, etc., across platforms ranging from the 30 pound SUGV to the 1500 pound R-Gator.
The plan is to broaden uses from bomb disposal and checkpoints to core Army.
Excited about Boeing SUGV Early partnership.
Work with many of the leading military contractors.
Global company. Substantial investments all around the globe.
On the consumer side, Angle bragged on Roomba. Deeper penetration.
"For your routine maintenance of your home, you are a neanderthal if you clean your home with an upright."
Will not discuss mysterious 2 new products due in second half, but said they will discuss later outdoor products and "even light commercial applications."
"Our challenge is picking and choosing among our opportunities.
"Committed not just on top line growth but growing bottom line profit."
Solid with Roomba and PackBot leading the way. Just the beginning.
"I like where we are today, I love where we are going to be in a very short amount of time."
Military panel:
Vice Admiral (Ret.) Joe Dyer, Capt. Robert "Knob" Moses (former director of contracts at Naval Air Systems Command), Jim Rymarcsuk (former Lockheed and Rolls Royce) Exec.
Dyer talked about the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles coming on quicker now, and Unmanned Ground Vehicles are coming on faster, growing quicker and following in time with unmanned underwater systems and unmanned service system.
Embracing of aerial and underwater systems and "be a player in the integration of all of those systems going forward."
Talks about "Crossing the Chasm." First adopters buying iPhone. Government labs, thinktanks, etc. are in the first adopter category. But to cross the chasm, need reliability, supply chain, et al boring stuff but required. "We are building bridges across the chasm."
Eventually annuity develops. The vast majority of the money -- up to 60 percent -- in sustaining lifetime support.
Army experimentation well to influence procurement systems.
Fort Benning experiments. In 2005, 30 technologies at play. UAVs, UGVs, et al. In 2006, over 40 technologies used in mock battlefield.
Great question posed in 2005 to the young captain in command of the experimental force:
"Of all these technologies and all of these systems, if you could pick just one, what would you take directly into service? His answer without a moment's hesitation, was 'Sir, the iRobot PackBot.'"
In 2006, which three systems would you take into service?: The answer this time was the Raven, the xx buster?, and the PackBot.
"I wanted situational awareness, I wanted it from the air, I wanted it from the ground and I wanted it reliable."
Knob Moses: Customer focus. The bomb disposal mission is really scratching the surface. We see the potential to go well beyond bomb disposal to many new markets. Next closest -- combat engineers, chem/bio and others. Very similar to EOD and order of magnitude larger than EOD. Another order of magnitude growth in overall infantry. See robot in every infantry squad and every SWAT team. Growing additional payloads onto the PackBot platform. First 100 FIDO bomb sniffing PackBots for Iraqi police this quarter. New Engineer robot. Can do many roles that combat engineers do. RedOwl sniper detection. New platforms -- SUGV and iRobot Warrior that open up larger applications. Expanding foothold in international marketplace. Europe. Asia.
Company slide sees potential for 5-year sales of 10,000-20,000 SUGVs (!!!), 2,000-3,000 PackBots, 500-1,000 Warriors, and 200-400 Intelligent Vehicles including R-Gator and "unmanned small boats." (!)
Dyer: Points out "hand-held bomb sniffer" as an oxymoron. Made for robots.
By the end of 2008, the company will go from 4 military products to 10 military products (!) "Much, much more robust" product line with iRobot Warrior (capable of running a 3 minute mile for over 25 miles) and SUGV: "This is the robot that takes military robots from hundreds to thousands." Stresses modularity, upgradeability, future upgrades to controllers, etc.
Stresses iRobot Aware robotic development software architecture, willing to license to competitors. Others have to waste time building systems from scratch.
There is a sea chance in Future Combat Systems. From transformation to modernization. Take the things that really work.
Army Chief of Staff testified to the House Armed Services Committee, the iRobot SUGV was in the room between the Members and the Chief of Staff.
SUGV accelerated from 2012 to potentially 2008.
Several video testimonials from soldiers. "Next time we need to bring some of this equipment with us, especially the SUGVs." "I don't know what this robot costs, but I know how much a soldier costs, and you can't put an amount of money on that."
Home Robots:
Parts of Scooba 380 infomercial shown. Launched at end of April. 28 minutes. 30 second spots don't fully explain Scooba. Enhanced consumer awareness and benefit, drive direct sales and help secure 2nd Half Placement. "Very Strong Results."
More international direct sales. Expand with retail partners overseas. Europe, Middle East and Africa. London iRobot office opened. Direct in Europe. Launch eCommerce for international. New Hong Kong office. Considering direct in Far East. Canada, expanding retail storefronts and warehousing. Costco Canada. Zeller's and The Bay in 2nd Half. 91% increase in Canada sales.
Verro pool cleaning robot. Asked by customers "Where is your pool cleaning robot?" Very strong positive initial results. Initial HSN 113 percent exceeding dollars per minute target. Exceeded Amazon's expectations. 8 Million pools in the U.S.
Focused on improving quality and life cycle, doubled investment. Roomba product life has doubled since 2004 (according to chart). 2nd Manufacturing facility in Far East in 3rd Quarter '07 with capacity of 35,000 per week(!) with Kin Yat Holdings Limited. Talking with other manufacturers as well. Chart shows improved cleaning shortly (ED: NEW ROOMBAS, I presume), and on Whole House Navigation. "We are working on it." Also improving interaction with people.
Sandy Lawrence, the new Home Robots director, talked of crossing the chasm on digital cameras and said she sees that happening with iRobot.
FINANCIAL:
CFO Geoff Clear noted focus of unexpected revenue will go to the bottom line instead of more R&D. Fairly high level of confidence "top range" of revenue number for first half. Leave in place 2nd half guidance. $225-235 Million overall. Anticipate direct sales could become 1/3rd or so given today's products. Quality improvements will cut return and warranty costs.
Q&A:
Q: Cleaning bottom of hulls of ships?
Joe: An area of interest, not been involved in so far.
Q: Licensing and royalties?
Colin: Guidance does not assume a major licensing of software revenue. Not modeled. Exciting.
Q: Sale of Aware?
Colin: Strategy -- Want third parties to work with us on our platform. Our partners can use it. It's an enabler for higher functioning robots. No announcements at this time of it being a standalone product.
Q: Cash guidance?
Geoff: Burned $5 million cash last year because of change in inventory to just-in-time. This year expect $70 million cash hoard to go down as second half inventory builds, then go back up for sales. Notes possibility of investment activity.
Q: SUGV and Iraq?
Joe: SUGV not tied to Iraq. EOD certainly is war related, though see international, domestic and reserves markets.
Q: Price sensitivity of military to cost of SUGV and PackBots. Selling price for SUGV?
Joe: Expect $100,000 price point for SUGV possible. Watching Army budget. Expect next spring, early summer before we see an identifiable budget line dealing with SUGV.
Q: Network warfare?
Joe: Working on robots having a better knowledge of the world around them.
Q:
Colin: Batteries, WiFi, User Interface changes -- PS2 game controllers in the soldiers' hands.
Q: Terms between IRBT and Boeing?
Geoff: Can't tell a lot. They will fund $3.6 million on SUGV Early over the next several quarters.
Q: Gross margin impact of nickel costs, Chinese currency strengthening?
Geoff: Quite focused on nickel. Meetings with battery suppliers. Trying to reduce nickel usage. Reflected in guidance. Clearly a risk point. Very fortunate in that all of our business is denominated in dollars.
Q: Dirt Dog? Father's Day?
Matt: Dirt Dog is going to be a focus for Father's Day. Some promotions with Dirt Dog, extending to Father's Day. Exploring different opportunities with retailers. "Forthcoming."
Q: Who trains soldiers on PackBots?
Knob: Do provide training and train the trainer program.
Q: Home robots higher Average selling prices expected? Increase in direct sales or newer products at higher price points?
Geoff: A number of offsetting factors. ASPs down $30 in first quarter substantially due to Scooba launch in 2006. Return rates could be favorable for ASPs. Verro will have some impact. Can't talk about new products ASPs. Longer term -- Bath Bots - probably lower ASPs. Core Roomba prices are pretty much holding.
Q: Roomba?
A: More sales of the higher priced Roombas, particularly direct.
Q: 50:50 military/home?
Geoff: Probably in 2nd Q, don't talk about 2nd Half breakdown...
Q: Low end of 2nd half vs. high end of 2nd half? What factors?
Geoff: Always shifts in shipping products. FIDO shiftments uncertain on timing. If in 2nd Qtr., could reduce 3rd Qtr.
Q: Long term PLR? Part of contract or add-on?
Jim: Add-on. Hand controller noted. Getting the robots to be used even more to boost aftermarket $$$.
Q: Synergies with home/military? Reasonable penetration for floor cleaning in next five years?
Helen: Synergies increasing. Military first to use technologies, consumer second. Susan: We have an insignificant share of vacuum. Some of leaders have 35-40 percent of the market. Certainly a lot more than we currently have.
Q: If you could really cut prices, could you really substantially increase penetration?
Susan: 1) How low can I go to interest more people. 2) Portfolio of products with different price points.
Colin: Dyson did not take the dominant position in the vacuum cleaning industry by cutting price. Death spiral of cheaper and cheaper and cheaper. Focused on what customers want and raising confidence that robots can do the job effectively. Over time have seen the ability to raise prices. "The vast majority of our robots are being sold at increasingly higher prices." We are clearly focused on making better robots and getting our customers to appreciate we have better robots.
Q: Weapons? Anti-suicide bomber? Sniper?
Joe: Military divided. Like putting a gun on a passenger airplane or not. Half think you should and half think you shouldn't. Think we will see armed robots. Robots give the infantry the potential to shoot second. Go into an area where they have to make a split second decision of whether to fire or not, can be wrong. Can take a better look before acting.
Q: Current year Roomba growth? Penetration or international?
Susan: Roomba penetration. We are at the tipping point.
More to come...
Tags: iRobot, robot
Lawn mower robot kills man
An industrial lawn mower robot killed a Danish man, Engadget notes, apparently falling on top of him off of a slope. Not exactly good pub for the industry. So far, none of the 50,000 Robomowers sold by Friendly Robotics have resulted in a single injury, from what I've seen, and are thus far safer than typical lawnmowers, which slice numerous limbs from bodies every year. Consumer lawnbots like the Robomower include auto-shutoff mechanisms to guard against rollovers (or curious/stupid children lifting it off the grass). But you can be sure that events like this will be mentioned in lots of news articles about robots from now on, sadly.
If/when iRobot releases its own lawn mower robot, they will have to "cross the chasm" and convince people that these devices are safe, first and foremost. It's a different arena than vacuuming, where all you have to do is convince somebody that it works and is reliable. The better analogy is to trying to convince Army brass to weaponize robots, something iRobot's management understands well.
(Thx, Dimorphcis)
If/when iRobot releases its own lawn mower robot, they will have to "cross the chasm" and convince people that these devices are safe, first and foremost. It's a different arena than vacuuming, where all you have to do is convince somebody that it works and is reliable. The better analogy is to trying to convince Army brass to weaponize robots, something iRobot's management understands well.
(Thx, Dimorphcis)
Do people still have a "Frankenstein Complex" when it comes to Home Robots?
I don't know if I completely buy the premise of this Christian Science Monitor article, but it is true that most folks still do not yet trust robots. Roomba gets a mention and an outdated photo. I for one have no doubt that as future generations of home robots come out and become more capable, more reliable and more widespread, that we'll see a positive cycle of upgrades and mass adoption. There is really no reason why every home shouldn't have at least a Roomba, if not a Scooba. And there is no reason why people should be paying lawn services $30 a week to mow their yard when a robotic lawnmower can do it far cheaper and better with a whole lot less pollution to boot. This is the future.
Tags: robots
Tags: robots
Memo to iRobot: Roomba product placement please!
Sarah Lawrence, new president of iRobot Home Robots, I know you are still getting acquainted with the job, but here are some suggestions/observations:
1. Get iRobot's products into more storefronts.
1a. In the past I've recommended that iRobot open some of its own stores, a la Apple. I still think this is a great idea. Like the Mac, People need to see, touch and use these robots, still foreign to most people, to get a sense of trust. A unit in a box in the back of Sharper Image doesn't quite do the trick. (Just as a Mac in the back of a CompUSA didn't either). A storefront with knowledgable employees keeping the robots stocked with charged batteries and answering customers' questions (and servicing dead 'bots) would draw a crowd and sell lots of robots. Think about it, wouldn't you and your kids want to check out the shiny new robot store? Or would you go for the umpteenth time into The Gap or Wilson Leather? Like Apple Stores, they would be a hub of activity.
1b. In the meantime, iRobot has left whole markets untouched by Roomba. Home Depot, Lowe's and Costco should stock Dirt Dogs in the weeks before Father's Day, but it looks like this won't happen. A pity. Wal-Marts should have $99 Roomba 400s this Christmas. (They would sell tens of thousands if you debuted them on Black Friday.) And isn't Wal-Mart trying to become more chic?
1c. Japan, Japan, Japan. They love robots, they're rich, they should love Roomba.
1d. I'm glad iRobot has started to realize that Europe could be a cash cow and is moving to cut out middlemen so you can lower prices and improve service. It's insane that iRobot is at 10 percent overseas sales. It should be 40 percent -- like Apple.
2. Product placement. Movies, sitcoms, famous folks, Academy Awards goodie bags, whatever it takes. The most obvious show should be ABC's hit, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They are always showing handicapped folks for whom Roomba would be perfect. Sears already sponsors the show and sells Roombas. Wouldn't it be great to see a scene where Ty snaps his fingers and a fleet of Roombas snap to work?
3. I like the infomercial for Scooba -- great idea. Consider one for your robotic lawnmower when it comes out. Most people still have no idea that there is such a thing as a robotic lawnmower. They need to see it working. (And get that bad boy on Extreme Makeover too!)
Cheers,
Thorn
Tags: iRobot
1. Get iRobot's products into more storefronts.
1a. In the past I've recommended that iRobot open some of its own stores, a la Apple. I still think this is a great idea. Like the Mac, People need to see, touch and use these robots, still foreign to most people, to get a sense of trust. A unit in a box in the back of Sharper Image doesn't quite do the trick. (Just as a Mac in the back of a CompUSA didn't either). A storefront with knowledgable employees keeping the robots stocked with charged batteries and answering customers' questions (and servicing dead 'bots) would draw a crowd and sell lots of robots. Think about it, wouldn't you and your kids want to check out the shiny new robot store? Or would you go for the umpteenth time into The Gap or Wilson Leather? Like Apple Stores, they would be a hub of activity.
1b. In the meantime, iRobot has left whole markets untouched by Roomba. Home Depot, Lowe's and Costco should stock Dirt Dogs in the weeks before Father's Day, but it looks like this won't happen. A pity. Wal-Marts should have $99 Roomba 400s this Christmas. (They would sell tens of thousands if you debuted them on Black Friday.) And isn't Wal-Mart trying to become more chic?
1c. Japan, Japan, Japan. They love robots, they're rich, they should love Roomba.
1d. I'm glad iRobot has started to realize that Europe could be a cash cow and is moving to cut out middlemen so you can lower prices and improve service. It's insane that iRobot is at 10 percent overseas sales. It should be 40 percent -- like Apple.
2. Product placement. Movies, sitcoms, famous folks, Academy Awards goodie bags, whatever it takes. The most obvious show should be ABC's hit, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They are always showing handicapped folks for whom Roomba would be perfect. Sears already sponsors the show and sells Roombas. Wouldn't it be great to see a scene where Ty snaps his fingers and a fleet of Roombas snap to work?
3. I like the infomercial for Scooba -- great idea. Consider one for your robotic lawnmower when it comes out. Most people still have no idea that there is such a thing as a robotic lawnmower. They need to see it working. (And get that bad boy on Extreme Makeover too!)
Cheers,
Thorn
Tags: iRobot
Meet CHAD: Robot delivers hospital supplies
And he only costs $95,000. Developed by a company called Aethon, which believes that there is a potential billion-dollar market for delivery robots. I'd have to agree. And he doesn't get sick, doesn't spread germs, doesn't need to use the bathroom, doesn't take up a parking space, and doesn't complain. Why wouldn't you get CHAD? Sure, he's a little pricey now, but think a few years down the road...
Tags: Aethon, robot
Tags: Aethon, robot
Bullish on IRBT
Ww Roomba models just around the corner, the new-and-improved Scooba models selling well (there is a 3-4 week wait for the $450 version!), Roombas selling as well as ever, two new unannounced products coming out, iRobot Verro selling, a robotic lawnmower likely coming next year, and the prospect of major military contracts coming in the next several months, let alone next year when several new military robots hit the market, iRobot's stock (NASDAQ:IRBT) IMHO should be going in one direction: Up.
Last year, the stock was weighed down by overhang from an overly optimistic '05 Christmas stocking season, the initial resistance to Scooba's $399 pricepoint and lingering quality control issues. Company executives also didn't understand how to talk to the market -- they are engineers, not Wall Street gurus -- and took too long to realize the damage coming from insider selling. The company has adapted, knows a lot more, and has been steadily fixing the problems. And the fruits of years of R&D are about to hit the market. This is not last year's iRobot.
I'm more bullish today than I've ever been.
Cheers.
Tags: iRobotith ne
Last year, the stock was weighed down by overhang from an overly optimistic '05 Christmas stocking season, the initial resistance to Scooba's $399 pricepoint and lingering quality control issues. Company executives also didn't understand how to talk to the market -- they are engineers, not Wall Street gurus -- and took too long to realize the damage coming from insider selling. The company has adapted, knows a lot more, and has been steadily fixing the problems. And the fruits of years of R&D are about to hit the market. This is not last year's iRobot.
I'm more bullish today than I've ever been.
Cheers.
Tags: iRobotith ne
LandShark seeks to bite into PackBot's market
The LandShark costs just $25,000 and can tow an 11,000-pound truck out of the way, The Boston Globe's Hiawatha Bray reports.
Tags: PackBot, Landshark
Tags: PackBot, Landshark
iTouchless Robot Vacuum on Sale at Amazon
I hadn't heard of this new Roomba knockoff until I was trolling Amazon recently. It appears to be a new competitor at the low end, and I wonder if iRobot will try and take action against it?
The "iTouchless Robotic Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner" is $119.99 at Amazon after $20 coupon code ITOUJUNE through the link, and was first listed April 15, 2007. The iTouchless looks like it has a lot in common with the original circa 2002 Roomba (very similar filters) with a stylish new exterior. The vacuum features a 1-hour battery, vs. the 2-hour batteries on most Roomba models. It charges in 4-hours versus 3 hours for Roombas, and I couldn't find any accessories like a self-charging home base or scheduler. It also appears to have a much smaller dustbin relative to the Discovery series Roombas, also in common with the 2002 Roomba, although I can't tell for sure from the photos.
The new vacuum also apparently is being distributed by Target, which also stocks Roombas starting at $199. iTouchless, known mostly for its line of trash cans, rebadges a number of products, so it is unclear who is the manufacturer. I don't see this as a serious competitor at this point. It seems to be less interesting than the Cleanmate QQ-1, which is $139 and has sold poorly.
An earlier knockoff that was the subject of a lawsuit by iRobot, the Koolvac KV-1, no longer appears to be available.
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
The "iTouchless Robotic Intelligent Vacuum Cleaner" is $119.99 at Amazon after $20 coupon code ITOUJUNE through the link, and was first listed April 15, 2007. The iTouchless looks like it has a lot in common with the original circa 2002 Roomba (very similar filters) with a stylish new exterior. The vacuum features a 1-hour battery, vs. the 2-hour batteries on most Roomba models. It charges in 4-hours versus 3 hours for Roombas, and I couldn't find any accessories like a self-charging home base or scheduler. It also appears to have a much smaller dustbin relative to the Discovery series Roombas, also in common with the 2002 Roomba, although I can't tell for sure from the photos.
The new vacuum also apparently is being distributed by Target, which also stocks Roombas starting at $199. iTouchless, known mostly for its line of trash cans, rebadges a number of products, so it is unclear who is the manufacturer. I don't see this as a serious competitor at this point. It seems to be less interesting than the Cleanmate QQ-1, which is $139 and has sold poorly.
An earlier knockoff that was the subject of a lawsuit by iRobot, the Koolvac KV-1, no longer appears to be available.
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
iRobot Press Club Appearance - Was There Any Press?
This lame clip at a New York TV station is all I could find from the iRobot press conference featuring its military robots at the National Press Club. If you find anything better, leave a link in the comments.
Roomba Study Shows it Improves Family Life
Want your husband or children to get more involved in cleaning the house? A new study funded by the National Science Foundation by Carnegie Mellon University found that Roomba does just that!
The 13-year-old daughter in one family almost literally adopted the Roomba, gradually “taking over” the vacuum and eventually moving it permanently to her bedroom. “For the first time ever,” her mother reported, “she is responsible for cleaning her own room every week without being nagged.”I've certainly observed that in my own house. I'm much more likely to pick up clutter to give Roomba a workout!
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
Roomba Study Shows it Improves Family Life
Want your husband or children to get more involved in cleaning the house? A new study funded by the National Science Foundation by Carnegie Mellon University found that Roomba does just that!
The 13-year-old daughter in one family almost literally adopted the Roomba, gradually “taking over” the vacuum and eventually moving it permanently to her bedroom. “For the first time ever,” her mother reported, “she is responsible for cleaning her own room every week without being nagged.”I've certainly observed that in my own house. I'm much more likely to pick up clutter to give Roomba a workout!
Tags: iRobot, Roomba
iRobot Update from Defense News
Defense News has a report on the state of iRobot's military robotics business.
I don't remember hearing that the company had sold its new PackBot 510 EOD to Australia. I think a major PackBot order could be forthcoming to mirror the recent massive order for its competitor, the Talon from Foster-Miller. The two companies have often had similar contracts in the past.
I don't remember hearing that the company had sold its new PackBot 510 EOD to Australia. I think a major PackBot order could be forthcoming to mirror the recent massive order for its competitor, the Talon from Foster-Miller. The two companies have often had similar contracts in the past.
iRobot News Roundup
Microcapfun speculates that iRobot might be gearing up for an acquisition. He questions why the company recently increased its revolving credit line from $20 million to $35 million. (The company has repeatedly said that it is actively looking at acquisitions but has nothing to report.) The company has about $70 million in cash from the IPO sitting in short-term investments that could also be used. There are any number of possibilities -- whether it be buying a startup for a piece of technology that could be applied quickly to PackBot or Roomba, or buying a company with military robotics contracts in hand (there is a Mass.-based company developing undersea robots that would be an interesting combo). Then there are the players with decent products but a lack of marketing muscle -- Aquabot and Friendly Robotics (Robomower) come to mind.
Perhaps CFO Geoff Clear will be asked about it this morning at the JPMorgan conference?
The Register spotlights iRobot's Xbox-like controllers for its military hardware.
The Army has an ER for injured robots in Iraq.
Wealjays posted links to iRobot YouTube videos here and here and of iRobot Create projects here.
Wealjays also found this great iRobot slideshow at eWeek.
Microcapfun also finds this great article profiling the Pleo at CNN.
Tags: iRobot, robot
Perhaps CFO Geoff Clear will be asked about it this morning at the JPMorgan conference?
The Register spotlights iRobot's Xbox-like controllers for its military hardware.
The Army has an ER for injured robots in Iraq.
Wealjays posted links to iRobot YouTube videos here and here and of iRobot Create projects here.
Wealjays also found this great iRobot slideshow at eWeek.
Microcapfun also finds this great article profiling the Pleo at CNN.
Tags: iRobot, robot
iRobot teams up with Lockheed Martin on FCS Controller
iRobot put out a press release today saying that it was selected by Lockheed Martin to work on a contract for a central controller for the FCS system. This was not news; the company disclosed this information during the 1st Quarter iRobot conference call in April and it was also mentioned in a May press release by another company. For some reason, the stock popped on the news, which I would attribute far more to the upward momentum of the stock right now than this contract, which will be negligible as far as profits and revenue are concerned. Bulls are eager to run. If the stock is up $.66 on fake news, imagine what it would do with a real contract?
In other iRobot stories of interest, Microcapfun found an Army of iRobot Create robots at the Microsoft Robotics Studio Blog and an audio interview with iRobot Chairwoman Helen Greiner.
Dimorphcis also found this ScienCentral article featuring iRobot and the iRobot Create.
Tags: iRobot, robot
In other iRobot stories of interest, Microcapfun found an Army of iRobot Create robots at the Microsoft Robotics Studio Blog and an audio interview with iRobot Chairwoman Helen Greiner.
Dimorphcis also found this ScienCentral article featuring iRobot and the iRobot Create.
Tags: iRobot, robot
iRobot raises prices on Scooba 380
UPDATED! iRobot has just raised the list price of the next-generation iRobot Scooba 380 to $499.
This new model has been a hot seller since it came out and iRobot started running television infomercials, with its faster operation, greater floor coverage and better expected reliability. This is a very good sign for iRobot. The stock's weakness last year can be traced almost entirely to Scooba weakness, and that weakness may now slowly be turning into a strength.
Tags: iRobot, Scooba
This new model has been a hot seller since it came out and iRobot started running television infomercials, with its faster operation, greater floor coverage and better expected reliability. This is a very good sign for iRobot. The stock's weakness last year can be traced almost entirely to Scooba weakness, and that weakness may now slowly be turning into a strength.
Tags: iRobot, Scooba
iRobot raises prices on Roomba Battery
iRobot has raised prices on the Roomba Battery, now $69.99 before auto 10% discount on accessories. Don't know when they increased prices (if you know please reply to this message) but I recall that they used to be $59. Not surprising given soaring nickel prices this year and that the company has noted that the battery is the most expensive component of the Roomba (and Scooba). The batteries are much cheaper at Amazon. On a positive note, nickel prices appear to have dropped about 20 percent from their peak, although the metal is still several times more expensive than it was in 2005. Spot prices are about $18 a pound last time I checked, down from about $24.
Tags: iRobot
Tags: iRobot
iRobot Planning for Acquisitions
iRobot announced yesterday that they have secured $50 million in credit facilities that can be used for "strategic acquisitions," equipment leases and the like.
“This facility gives iRobot additional flexibility to execute on our growth strategy including pursuing acquisitions that will expand penetration of our current markets or give us access to new markets and customers where there is high demand for our products,” said Colin Angle, chief executive officer of iRobot. “The establishment of this credit facility is an endorsement of our strategy and demonstrates Bank of America’s confidence in the overall financial strength of iRobot and the potential growth of the emerging robotics industry.”
It looks like iRobot is nearing the purchase of a smaller robotics company or two -- there are certainly many available, either in the military space like Bluefin for aquatic robotics or commercial cleaning robots such as the Intellibot or lawnmowing in Friendly Robotics. I'm guessing military.
Tags: iRobot, robot
“This facility gives iRobot additional flexibility to execute on our growth strategy including pursuing acquisitions that will expand penetration of our current markets or give us access to new markets and customers where there is high demand for our products,” said Colin Angle, chief executive officer of iRobot. “The establishment of this credit facility is an endorsement of our strategy and demonstrates Bank of America’s confidence in the overall financial strength of iRobot and the potential growth of the emerging robotics industry.”
It looks like iRobot is nearing the purchase of a smaller robotics company or two -- there are certainly many available, either in the military space like Bluefin for aquatic robotics or commercial cleaning robots such as the Intellibot or lawnmowing in Friendly Robotics. I'm guessing military.
Tags: iRobot, robot
DARPA wants $100 LANdroids
Imagine hundreds of cheap robots called LANdroids dropped around a city or town to instantly create a communications network? That's what DARPA wants, RobotGossip reports. As Wealjays reported on the IRBT message board on Yahoo, several iRobot engineers are working on the problem, and the iRobot Create is one potential platform.
Sounds pretty cool, although at $100 a pop, it'd be hard to make any money!
Tags: iRobot, DARPA
Sounds pretty cool, although at $100 a pop, it'd be hard to make any money!
Tags: iRobot, DARPA
PackBot Fido named No. 2 Army invention for 2006!
The Army has named the Fido bomb-sniffing attachment for the iRobot PackBot the No. 2 invention of 2006! Check it out at this link.
Thx, infinityaero
Tags: iRobot, PackBot
Vision Robotics Makes Fruit Picking Robot, Wants to Build Roomba Killer
Vision Robotics of San Diego is working on prototype fruit-picking robots that could displace thousands of migrant farm workers.
Pictured is an artist's rendering from their web page of a two-robot floor cleaning system that would mop and vacuum floors. (Don't get too excited, it appears to be dated 1999). The company also says on its web page that it received a 2007 grant to develop a vision-based navigation attachment module for small bomb defusing robots (iRobot's PackBot?) that will allow them to navigate on their own.
Tags: iRobot, PackBot
Pictured is an artist's rendering from their web page of a two-robot floor cleaning system that would mop and vacuum floors. (Don't get too excited, it appears to be dated 1999). The company also says on its web page that it received a 2007 grant to develop a vision-based navigation attachment module for small bomb defusing robots (iRobot's PackBot?) that will allow them to navigate on their own.
Tags: iRobot, PackBot
Vision Robotics Makes Fruit Picking Robot, Wants to Build Roomba Killer
Vision Robotics of San Diego is working on prototype fruit-picking robots that could displace thousands of migrant farm workers.
Pictured is an artist's rendering from their web page of a two-robot floor cleaning system that would mop and vacuum floors. (Don't get too excited, it appears to be dated 1999). The company also says on its web page that it received a 2007 grant to develop a vision-based navigation attachment module for small bomb defusing robots (iRobot's PackBot?) that will allow them to navigate on their own.
Tags: iRobot, PackBot
Pictured is an artist's rendering from their web page of a two-robot floor cleaning system that would mop and vacuum floors. (Don't get too excited, it appears to be dated 1999). The company also says on its web page that it received a 2007 grant to develop a vision-based navigation attachment module for small bomb defusing robots (iRobot's PackBot?) that will allow them to navigate on their own.
Tags: iRobot, PackBot
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