[Tech1]

Ex Army Bomb Technician (EOD) here, now doing enterprise java / intranet stuff. Disclosure: I also used to work for one of iRobots competitors, Roboteam.

My speculation is that they also sold because they lost a 25 million dollar contract to Roboteam. It's a 7 year contract to the airforce for 200+ robots. IMHO, unless more services drop out of the joint robotics program, as the airforce did, it will likely be the last large government robotics contract for a very long time.

[Tech1]

Just to give further explanation to everyone commenting on the 'warbot' phrase... The robots iRobot makes for use in war, are designed to save lives. Not take them. They saved my life, as well as the lives of several coworkers, on many occasions. They are designed to dismantle IEDs or road side bombs as you may know them. The number one killer in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If I can send a $150,000 piece of equipment down range to handle an IED with a skilled operator at the controls, instead of risking human life to make the route / area safe for passing friendly troops, local nationals, or coalition troops, instead of risking my life... I'm going to it every single time.