Colin Angle

Colin Angle – Innovator in Robotics and Business Leader

Colin Angle (b. 1967) is an American engineer, co-founder, former CEO, and Chairman of iRobot. Discover his journey from MIT to founding Roomba, his leadership in consumer robotics, philosophy on robotics, and enduring legacy.

Introduction

Colin M. Angle is best known as one of the co-founders of iRobot, the company behind the Roomba vacuum robot, and as a pioneer in bringing robotics into everyday homes. Under his leadership, iRobot evolved from an MIT research spin-off into a major player in consumer robotics. Though he stepped back from CEO in 2024, his influence on the robotics and automation industry endures.

Early Life & Education

• Colin Angle was born in 1967 (specific date not widely published).

• He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a Master of Science in Computer Science, both from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

• At MIT, Angle worked in the Artificial Intelligence Lab, where he developed early robotic prototypes. For instance, his master’s thesis involved an autonomous walking robot named Genghis.

Career & Achievements

Founding iRobot & Early Robotics Work

• In 1990, Colin Angle co-founded iRobot Corporation with Helen Greiner and Rodney Brooks, emerging from research at MIT’s AI Lab.

• Early on, Angle and his colleagues contributed to robotics projects for NASA and defense, including behavior-controlled rovers.

• For instance, one of iRobot’s early contributions was on the Sojourner rover (Mars exploration), for which Angle’s team won the NASA Group Achievement Award.

Commercial Success & Consumer Robotics

• iRobot’s signature breakthrough came in 2002 with the introduction of Roomba, a consumer robot vacuum designed to autonomously clean floors.

• Under Angle’s leadership, iRobot expanded its product lines to include Braava (robotic mops) and concept products like lawn mowers, as well as robotics for defense uses.

• The company grew substantially—in revenue, team size, and global reach. According to iRobot’s official bio, the company attained more than $1.2 billion in revenue under his leadership.

Leadership, Transition & Later Projects

• Angle held roles as President (from ~1992), CEO (from ~1997), and later Chairman of the Board (from ~2008) at iRobot.

• In 2024, after a failed acquisition by Amazon and significant restructuring, Angle stepped down as CEO.

• Following his departure, he has been reported to launch a new startup, Familiar Machines & Magic, focused on home-robot companions that mix wellness and AI.

Philosophy, Style & Influence

• Angle frequently speaks about practical robotics: robots should solve real problems—not just be novelties.

• He embraced hacker communities and transparency; early Roombas were designed to be partly open, allowing users to explore and extend functionality.

• Angle has often emphasized that the best robots “disappear into the background” of daily life—i.e. seamless, unobtrusive automation.

• His leadership style is often described as combining technical vision with entrepreneurial risk-taking—“building the airplane while flying it” is a metaphor he’s used for startups.

Notable Quotes

Here are a few statements reflecting Angle’s mindset and approach:

“I like to think of myself as being sufficiently crazy to try new things.”

In a talk:

“At the end of this journey … entrepreneurial experience is a lot like building an airplane while you’re flying.”

From interview:

“When I went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, … MIT didn’t have a robotics degree at the time. This led me to design my own major which included mechanical and electrical engineering and a bit of artificial intelligence.”

Legacy & Continuing Impact

• Colin Angle is a foundational figure in making home robotics mainstream, particularly via the mass success of Roomba.

• His approach helped shift robotics from lab curiosities to consumer appliances, influencing how modern smart homes evolve.

• Even after stepping down at iRobot, his new ventures suggest he remains committed to innovation in robotics and AI.

• His story is often cited in entrepreneurial and technical circles as an example of blending deep engineering with bold business strategy.