As of 2024, iRobot markets models of their fourth through tenth generation, while continuing to provide support and to sell accessories for their previous series.

[2] Various models of the Roomba have different features, including tangle-free brushes, separate sweep canisters, more powerful vacuums, obstacle avoidance, and performance maps displayed via smartphone apps.

Parts of some models are interchangeable, allowing owners to mix and match features or switch to other units for longer battery operation.

Additionally, some units can be adapted to perform more creative tasks using an embedded computer in conjunction with the Roomba Open Interface.

In August 2022, Amazon announced its intention to purchase iRobot, though the acquisition was delayed by regulators in Europe for fear of hurting competition.

[4] Engineer Joe Jones first conceived the idea for what eventually became the Roomba in 1989 while working at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory.

On most models, it is between the two side wheels and is around 5–8 inches (13–20 cm) wide; on the S series, it is moved to the flat square part of the D shape near the front, where it is wider, but still does not extend the full width of the vehicle.

Most second- and third-generation models, as well as all newer ones, have internal acoustic-based dirt sensors that allow them to detect and focus on particularly dirty spots.

Fourth-generation and newer models have an optical sensor located in front of the vacuum bin, allowing detection of wider and smaller messes.

[23] Starting with the sixth generation, Roombas have an upward-facing camera and a downward-facing infrared floor-tracking sensor, which are used to create a map of the floor.

[24] This enables them to use a back-and-forth cleaning pattern, which is faster and more efficient because it ensures more complete coverage without needing to cover an area multiple times.

To rectify this, the upward-facing camera is used periodically to identify waypoints or "landmarks," coarse points that are used to correct the Roombas' position and map.

This design is based on MIT researcher and iRobot CTO Rodney Brooks' philosophy that robots should be like insects, equipped with simple control mechanisms tuned to their environments.

[32] When finished cleaning or when the battery is nearly depleted, Roombas (excluding first-generation models) will try to return to a base if one is detected.

Roombas, except for first-generation models also support scheduling, allowing cleaning to start at a certain time and day of the week that the owner desires.

[34] In some models, the brushes are followed by a squeegee vacuum, which directs the airflow through a narrow slit to increase its speed in order to collect fine dust.

It featured a larger dust bin, improved software that calculates room size, dirt detection, and fast charging in the home base.

The 500 series was introduced in August 2007[10] and featured a forward-looking infrared sensor to detect obstacles and reduce impact speed, a docking command button, improved mechanical components, smoother operation, and a modular design to facilitate part replacement.

The AeroForce Performance Cleaning System, which is five times more powerful than the older series,[46] and the iRobot XLife battery are some of the new features.

The AeroForce system does away with the large rotating brush and pulls air between two rubber rollers, thereby getting the vacuum suction closer to the floor.

The 805, released in 2013, was one of the earliest 800 models that utilizes the AeroForce cleaning system and has scheduling abilities, which allows up to 7 prescheduled runs per week, and comes with two virtual wall barriers.

[50] The Roomba 980 was released in September 2015 and contains a new iAdapt 2.0 visual simultaneous localization and mapping (vSLAM) navigation system, which allows it to clean an entire level of a home more efficiently.

The i3 does not use vSLAM navigation but relies on a downward optical encoder and gyroscopes;[60] in addition, it doesn't allow selecting specific rooms, though this capability was added in 2022 with a firmware update in some regions.

The S series also includes linking technology that allows the Roomba to communicate wirelessly with other iRobot products, where the Braava Jet M6 can automatically be set to mop after the s9 has finished vacuuming.

The j7 and j7+ models went on sale in September 2021 and debuted Precision Vision: the navigation system that detects and avoids obstacles like power cords and pet waste.

The j7 is a direct upgrade to the Roomba i7, with the same overall body design and rated ten times the suction compared to the standard model.

[77][78] In April 2023, iRobot announced the Roomba Combo® Essential Robot, which also included a single main roller and a removable mop pad.

[80] Versions manufactured after October 2005 contain an electronic and software interface that allows hackers to more easily control or modify behavior and remotely monitor its sensors.

[84] Roombas pre-October 2005 upgraded with the OSMO hacker[85] device allow monitoring many sensors and modifying the unit's behavior.

In this model the vacuum cleaner motor is replaced by a "cargo bay" for mounting devices like TV cameras, lasers and other robotic parts.