Amazon to buy iRobot, maker of Roomba vacuums

One of the largest manufacturers of robotic vacuum cleaners, iRobot, known for the Roomba brand, is becoming a subsidiary of Amazon. The deal is worth 1.7 billion dollars and needs the approval of the competition authorities of various countries to take effect.

iRobot has been producing robotic vacuum cleaners for 10 years, being one of the first and for a long time the largest manufacturer of robotic vacuum cleaners. Recently, iRobot unveiled a new version of its vacuum cleaner software that makes extensive use of artificial intelligence to manage the devices. It is the quality of the software and additional options that make the Roomba vacuum cleaners different from their competitors in the manufacturer's view.

Amazon declined to comment on the company's plans for the iRobot devices, but home robots aren't really a new product area for Amazon. So, for example, a home robot called Astro was put on sale last year, and drones that guard the home and carry goods have also been tested.

Rumours have been swirling for a long time that Amazon wants to launch a hybrid of a smart and voice-controlled robotic vacuum cleaner and an Echo speaker that, in addition to cleaning, also answers user questions and plays music.