Robot has struggled with sales in recent years amid growing foreign competition and supply chain issues. A China-based manufacturer is looking to buy the company.

While iRobot is selling itself off as scrap, let's remember what actually makes a good robovac.

The original Roomba was the first robot vacuum in the US, and the second ever made, following Electrolux’s Trilobite the year prior. A basic bump-and-roll bot with bump and cliff sensors, the Roomba rolled randomly around your home, sucking up dirt, bumping from wall to wall, and generally trying not to fall down stairs.

The bankruptcy announcement comes after cash struggles and a failed acquisition by Amazon.