Helen Greiner

The co-founder and chairman of the board of iRobot talks about the future of helper robots, the PackBot in war zones, and women in technology.

Q: iRobot is known for making "appliance" robots. Will the company ever delve into home companions?

A: Home companions would not be as probable as assistive robots. Customers purchase the iRobot Roomba and iRobot Scooba to get the tedious job of cleaning the floors done, but they start thinking of them as pets and even name them; Rosie seems to be a common choice.

Q: What will robotics look like ten years from now?

A: iRobot's vision is that of an autonomous house enabled by robots. In ten years, I believe every house with a PC will have not just one but several robots for time-consuming chores. Envision robots taking on the dusting, cleaning bathrooms, cleaning pools, mowing lawns, washing windows as well as reminding you to take your medication, bringing you a drink, and more.

Q: Why did iRobot release a robot building kit? Is it designed to inspire the next generation of iRobot employees?

A: We believe that it will inspire the next generation of robot engineers. With the $129.99 iRobot Create, anyone can develop robot applications on this state-of-the-art platform. This means that we can more easily evaluate technology they develop to see if it will fit with our product lines or enable future product lines.

Q: How effective has iRobot's PackBot been in Afghanistan? And how will robotics figure into future military conflicts?

A: During Operation Enduring Freedom, PackBot robots were used to clear caves where Taliban were hiding weapons caches. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, the robots were used by the 101st on the push to Baghdad to go into buildings first; they were also used in the Fallujah operation. Today PackBots clean up roadside bombs or IEDs [improvised explosive devices]. We are very excited about an order that we just received for explosive-sniffing robots, which will be used by military police to inspect cars for bombs at checkpoints before the soldier approaches.

Q: Are you seeing more women getting into robotics?

A: Absolutely, engineering is a great field for women. It allows you to use your creativity combined with practical knowledge. It is unfortunate that negative stereotypes keep many intelligent women from entering engineering. Building a robot allows you to use your imagination and gives you a sense of accomplishment and empowerment, because you can see your creation "come to life." What's cooler than that?