Former iRobot Founders Creating AI-Powered Home Robots

The former CEO and co-founder of iRobot has teamed with two other iRobot alumni to create a new robot startup relating to health and wellness.

Colin Angle stepped down from iRobot nine months ago after leading the company for 33 years. He co-founded iRobot while an MIT graduate student. At the time of his announcement, he hinted at his future.

“iRobot has an exciting future ahead of it. I am not done either,” he said in a LinkedIn post at the time. 

Now we know what he is up to next. 

Co-founded with iRobot’s former chief technology officer Chris Jones and iRobot alumni Ira Renfrew, the startup, Familiar Machines and Magic, plans to work in the home-robot space, according to a recent LinkedIn post by Jones. 

“We are keeping our vision quiet for now, but we are well-funded and off to the races with a team of talented robotics scientists, engineers and designers creating of a new kind of home robot in the health and wellness space.”

Familiar Machines and Magic / Angle.AI Inc. filed a trademark application in October. While the company has not revealed specific details, the filing suggests a strong emphasis on interactive and emotive robotics.

The application suggests a focus on developing AI-powered robots for personal, educational, health and wellness use. 

The trademark covers a broad range of products, including robots with communication and learning functions, companion robots and those designed to improve human health. It also includes software for controlling, programming and interfacing with robots and digital companions, as well as accessories including charging docks and mobile bases. 

This article first appeared in AI Business' sister publication IoT World Today.