...© HULT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL | CASE STUDY: IROBOT - “WHERE TO WIN” AND “HOW TO PLAY” 1 Hult Strategic Growth Challenge: iRobot – “Where to Win” & “How to Play” in the increasingly crowded robotics space Competition Details Judge: Ronald Jonash Professor of Strategy and Innovation, Hult International Business School Case Study: iRobot - “Where to Win” and “How to Play” in the increasingly crowded robotics space Developed by Professor Ronald Jonash and Bert Fickel for the purpose of classroom discussion and analysis at Hult International Business School. ©2014 What would you do? You are the head of strategy at iRobot, and have been asked for your recommendations and rationale on “Where to Play” and “How to Win” over the next two years. 1. Where should iRobot best put its development resources and focus? 2. Where is iRobot’s marketing budget best spent? 3. How can iRobot best win given its strengths and weaknesses? 4. What are the key factors and competencies that are liable to drive success and gain a sustainable competitive advantage? Read the complete case study on pages 1 - 2. Rules Entries must be submitted in PowerPoint format 10 slide maximum including 1-2 page executive summary (not including title page) Presentation should be professional and “boardroom ready” Awards* 1st Place - 40% scholarship towards tuition 2nd Place - 25% scholarship towards tuition 3rd Place - 15% scholarship towards tuition How to submit Apply for our intake 2014 ...
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...plug itself and charges automatically. Roombas are user-friendly and many people love their Roomba and they name it like a true pet. In the given statement, it really show that IRobot got a high customer value. IRobot offer Roomba a good product that perform well and really help the masses. IRobot also got high customer satisfaction because the product met the customer’s needs and expectations and it help them a lot. In customer relationship, I can say that IRobot succeed in making their customer to the highest level. “Roomba Customers created the Roomba review website (www.RoombaReview.com), which features news, chats, product reviews and hacker information. Billed as the official Roomba lover’s forum, Roomba Review is loaded with posts and comments on everything from shared Roomba experiences and adventures to information on differences between models, tips on finding a Roomba at a good price and tech support questions and answers- all supplied by customers.at the disclaimer at the bottom notes that the web site is not affiliated with iRobot Corporation (we’re just really big fans of The Roomba Vacuum)” In this statement, it show that the customer really liked and loved the Roomba and make it to the “Advocate level. The Advocator’s will fight if someone say bad things to the IRobot Company. I can say that the Roomba product are Market oriented because they satisfy the customer needs and wants. They made the cleaning look easy and more comfortable. They also...
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...Technology roboticists, iRobot designs and builds some of the world’s most important robots. iRobot’s home robots are revolutionizing the way people clean – inside and out. More than 8 million home robots have been sold worldwide, with the award-winning iRobot Roomba floor vacuuming robot leading the charge. iRobot’s combat-proven defense and public safety robots perform multiple missions – on the land and in the water. More than 5,000 have been delivered to military and civil defense forces worldwide, performing thousands of dangerous search, reconnaissance and bomb-disposal missions while protecting those in harm’s way. With two decades of leadership in the robot industry, iRobot remains committed to building robots that improve the quality of life and safety standards worldwide. Timeline 2012 More than 8 million home robots sold worldwide. More than 5,000 iRobot unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) delivered worldwide. 2011 iRobot launches the Scooba 230 floor washing robot. iRobot launches Roomba® 700 series vacuum cleaning robots. 2010 iRobot celebrates 20 years of making a difference. iRobot co-sponsors National Robotics Week. iRobot Seaglider helps monitor Gulf of Mexico oil spill. 2009 iRobot launches SPARK education initiative. 2008 iRobot expands into maritime robots. iRobot launches the Roomba® pet series and professional series vacuum cleaning robots. iRobot wins contract to develop LANdroid communication robot. 2007 iRobot launches the Create programmable...
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...Name : Premela Raman ID :111052-05112-010 Date : 20.3.2012 Should Robots be Encouraged to Do Work? What is a robot? A robot, scientifically known as a machine, means ‘a machine capable of carrying out complex series of actions automatically, especially one programmable by a computer (Oxford dictionaries, 2012). A robot can complete one or more tasks repeatedly, with high speed and accuracy. In today’s modern life, robot is getting to be increasingly important for many people because it can perform industrial duties, housework and so forth. Today, it has been proven, that robot bring benefits to all of us in many different ways. Japan is a good example of a country to prove that robot is an important machine in industries in the country. In fact, Japan looks for robots to fill jobs because there are lack of employees to do work (Lustig, 2009).This shows, the importance of robots to do work in big industries. Furthermore, mostly electronics industry and motor vehicle industry need large quantity of robots to complete their products until final products (IFR International Federation of Robotics, n.d). The top list shows that the Republic of Korea has sold 23,500 robots, up from 7,800 units in 2009 (IFR International Federation of Robotics, n.d). From the statistics, we can realise that robots play an important role to do work in all of the industries in the world. However, there are those who think that robots have negative effects for people and can bring extreme danger...
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...Critical Analysis of The Robot Invasion Patrick F. Nagle Delaware Technical Community College Critical Analysis of The Robot Invasion In the article The Robot Invasion by Charles Gillis, it talks about in the not too distant future how robotics will be a part of everyday society, how it will be used in manufacturing and labor industry instead of people for jobs that are dirty, dangerous, and difficult. The author argues that the world will be swarming with the robotics in the future which will change the job industry and even how basic chores are done around the house. The world is changing as the technology of robots are slowly taking over jobs, is not a too farfetched argument. “For many years the work of engineers and sci-fi writers have forecast a time when autonomous machines would become enough like living creatures to share our homes and work spaces.” The statement in this article is a good capture to draw the attention of the readers, drawing them into what they have seen on TV and in the media. Robots for many years have been the focus in movies and sci-fi, this is what we are expecting in the future of our world. This has brought the fears to the people to think that robots will take over the world and do harm on to them, which was a great way to understand that society will have a hard time adjusting or accepting that robots will be used in everyday life. As of right now there already is a little robot called the Roomba helping out in many households with the...
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...IRobot Security Analysis Abstract This paper contains an analysis of the stock security iRobot (irbt) which has had several highs and several lows over the past few years due to the fluctuations in the US economy. The overall analysis dictates how the state of the economy can affect an individual stock price even though the company has had relative good growth in customer sales over the last five years. The overall analysis looks at the return on equity, future growth rate of earnings, required rate of return and the company’s intrinsic value. Graphs and/or tables will be used to support the overall findings of the security. Introduction Robotics is on the rise, the concept of creating machines that can operate autonomously has been a goal set by man since the beginning of time. iRobot (irbt) has taken on this concept and has truly made it a reality in our time. Quite simply “iRobot designs and builds robots that make a difference” (iRobot, 2013). That difference is seen in the lives of its customers. iRobot was founded in 1990 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology roboticists with the vision of making practical robots a reality. iRobot’s corporate headquarters are located in Bedford, Massachusetts. The company also has offices in California, the United Kingdom, China and Hong Kong. iRobot designs, develops, and markets practical robotic solutions that undertake mundane and/or dangerous tasks for consumers, government agencies, military, and industry...
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..."Ok Google" people are trusting AI, like Siri and Google Now, with their day to day decisions like what is relevant news or what way to drive somewhere. As AI's applications get bigger and bigger, for example, autonomous cars and medical decision support systems, should we really trust their decisions? There are also many benefits to AI, such as increased productivity, and reduced dangers. All in all, AI can be helpful or hurtful. AI can be dangerous, In the movie iRobot the character Del Spooner “was in a car accident and a robot decided to save him and not a young girl because he had a higher chance to survive” (IMDB), this is disturbing because in our society we have always believed to save women and children first. Sure the robot could have been programmed to have the same beliefs, but it is impossible to hard code all of society's beliefs like that. Therefore, AI needs to make it’s own decisions. The different methods of which were discussed at...
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...on mining for income. There has been some improvement over the years, several countries have reduced the number of children in mining and that prevents child labor. In 2015 iRobot launched a vacuum cleaning robot. iRobot combined visual navigation and increased the cleaning power on carpets. In 2013 iRobot launched a lot of robots and more than 10 million home robots were sold worldwide. The robots launched were the Roomba® 800 Series, the Ava™ 500, and the Mirra™ 530. In 2011 iRobot developed a small light called the 110 FirstLook® and they also launched the Scooba® 230, a floor washing robot, and the Roomba® 700, a vacuum cleaning robot. In 2009 iRobot launches SPARK education initiative. In 2008 iRobot invents the Roomba® pet series. In 2007 iRobot launches a few robots, such as: the Create® programmable mobile robot, the Verro® pool cleaning robot, and the Looj® gutter cleaning robot. In 2006 iRobot launched the Dirt Dog® shop sweeping robot. In 2002 the PackBot® is deployed with U.S. troops for the first time and iRobot and National Geographic Society developed a robot that searched the Great Pyramid of Egypt. In 2001 the PackBot® also searched the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks. In 1996 iRobot develops Ariel™, a robot that detects and eliminates mines in the surf zone. The first robot iRobot developed was the Genghis™, a robot designed for space exploration. Capstone Mining Corporation has had huge milestones such as, in February 2009 high grade resources were...
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...streamlining mundane daily household tasks, into the sleek and cutting edge Apple Inc. product line. Bringing together the very cool, very avant-garde design philosophy consumers have grown accustomed to, we introduce Apple’s newest product line, the iRobot. The iRobot will serve as an automated central control system, as well as an automated functional piece of operating equipment for daily household tasks. Below is an introductory list of functionality the iRobot will offer. As third party providers introduce accessorial product lines, functionality will only increase. As with our current product lines, we will allow other vendors to provide most of the accessorial product lines but there is a potential for future product lines to come from within the Apple Inc family. * Standard Apple functionality including but not limited to iTunes, Safari, Apple TV and our entire “apps” library. All displayable through touch screen, or integration into existing platforms. * Cleaning: vacuuming, dusting, sweeping and polishing of all types of flooring. Following a pre programmed, or random pattern, this function will clean all types of flooring within the home. * Climate control: Taking readings from each room the iRobot will adjust temperature and humidity...
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...Micro Mouse Competition Team 1: I-Robotics Motto: Robotic creations for a better world http://i-robotics.webnode.com Team Members: Cory Balmelli, Nathan Crawford, Dave Engebretson, David Reuter, Frank Thomas Table of Contents Problem of the overheating servo motors – Cory Balmelli 3 Part 1; Review Course of Action; K.T. Decision Analysis 3 Part 2; Implementation 3 Part 3; Checklist Questions 4 Part 4; “P” 4 Part 5; Ethical Considerations 4 iRobot Sensor Failure - Nathan Crawford 6 Part 1; Course of Action; Decision Analysis 6 Part 2; Implementation 6 Part 3; Checklist Questions 6 Part 4; Patience 7 Part 5; Ethical Considerations 7 Technique 3: Statement Restatement - David W Reuter 8 Part 1; Review Course of Action; K.T. Decision Analysis 8 Part 2; Implementation – Using the Follow-Up Action 8 Part 3; Checklist Question 8 Part 4; Pride 9 Part 5; Ethical Considerations 9 Works Cited 10 Index 11 Problem of the overheating servo motors – Cory Balmelli Part 1; Review Course of Action; K.T. Decision Analysis In my previous report I used Kepner-Tregoe Decision Analysis to determine a course of action to solve our team’s problem of overheating servo motors. K.T. Decision Analysis helped to narrow down possible courses of action and determine which course would fit our criteria. I came up with three possible courses of action: reprogram the controller, buy new motors, or install a resistor. K.T. Decision Analysis quickly weeded...
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...examine the meaning of the word artificial intelligence. All textbooks define the field as "the study and design of intelligent agents" where an intelligent agent is a system that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of success. John McCarthy, who coined the term in 1956, defines it as "the science and engineering of making intelligent machines.” Reading these definitions brings a greater understanding as to what artificial intelligence is and the fact remains that it has been around a lot longer than we think. I remember my mother buying a vacuum in 2002 called the iRobot. It would roam around the house without a handle or a remote control and vacuum the carpet. The iRobot would know when to stop and turn and it would beep when it was full of dirt so you could empty it. If we look at what the definition of artificial intelligence is, then the iRobot falls into this category. There are many more inventions like this that fall under this category. In 2009 a humanoid robot named TOPIO Played table tennis, a robot named ASIMO used sensors and intelligent algorithms to walk...
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...MINT PLUS Mint is a line of robotic cleaning machines, launched in January 2010 by Evolution Robotics, a company that just got acquired by iRobot. Mint is a two tiered cleaning robot which dusts and wet-mops hard surface floors. The robot systematically covers the floor line-by-line and cleans around the edges before it returns to its original position. Mint is one of the most noise-free floor cleaning robot (it has no vacuum motor), but it is not fully automatic. The cleaning cloth has to be attached to the cleaning pad before cleaning and it has to be removed after it is done. It can cover 93 square meters (1000 sq ft) in sweep mode and 23 square meters (250 sq ft) in wet mopping mode. Mint uses a navigation cube as a beacon for navigation and the original model is only able to handle one of these beacons at a time. The indoor navigation system is called NorthStar Navigation System. On 14th September 2011, Evolution Robotics announced the second model of the Mint family, called Mint Plus. It is essentially a slightly improved version of the original Mint. Mint Plus is smarter than the basic version as it works with the NorthStar 2 indoor navigation system, which is how the Mint figures out where it is, what it has cleaned, and what it still needs to clean. It also creates and stores a map of the area it cleans. The newer version also takes less time to charge. Why is Mint Plus a Hi-Tech Product? We live a very busy life. Chores such as dish cleaning, laundry and cooking...
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...Running Head: COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND THE EFFECT ON THE BRAIN 1 Computer Technology and the effect on the brain Malcolm Alexander Park University Table of contents 1. Abstract 3. Research and Development 5. Summary of data/conclusion 6. References COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND THE EFFECT ON THE BRAIN 2 Abstract Computer technology has been around in our lives for a few century’s changing our lives for better and worse. The first set of evidence of mechanical calculating appeared in the 17th century as well as the first recorded word of computer. What we know as our modern day computer was first introduced around the 19th century. Since then computer technology has been advancing every day, making past technology obsolete very quickly. Nowadays computer technology is part of most people’s life. In the 1960’s people on average would watch around 5 hours of media compared to today’s 12 hours (Wells, 2010). Yet with all of this advanced technology how is it affecting our brains and body? In this paper I will attempt to answer these questions. COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY AND THE EFFECT ON THE BRAIN 3 Computer technology is a part of many people’s lives in this modern age. Computers have made a big impact into our lives around the 19th century. Since then they have been advancing so quickly. Before they were thought of as...
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..., or cheaper product however at the expense of quality in order to meet her budget. Also Nanda talks about the future, she visions Clocky as brand that will support her future business and not to be just a short term profit. Which leads to the fad label problem where Nanda fears that Clocky's "look" ( which was intended to show Clocky as a warm and friendly in the eyes of the consumer ) will support the image of Clocky in being just another strange product that will fad after a while. Our recommendation for Clocky's marketing launch plan are these key components : Product: Nanda visions her product as a solid platform for her future innovations, in other words she wants Clocky to be a strong solid brand in the market ; she cited how iRobot used the success of its first innovation " Roomba " , that successfully avoid the fade label problem , to manage the rest of its innovative products . Moreover we found characteristics that are in favor of Nanda's product such as efficiency ( to turn off the alarm you have to get out of bed and catch it ) its technologically advanced ( the technology used to create Clocky allows it to maneuver freely in the room and not get stuck by any obstacles ) also its warm and friendly appearance ( it can be viewed as a pet just like the case of iRobot's Roomba ) However , due to some bad reviews, which are indicated in the case , we recommend that Nanda change the " eccentric and funny looking " design of Clocky so that it appeals for a wider range...
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...3D Robotics 3D Robotics is a Private company with a focus on robotics. It is located at 2629 7th St. , Berkeley CA in the United States. ABB Robotics ABB Robotics is a Public company with a focus onIndustrial & Manipulatorrobotics. It is located at Affolternstrasse 44, Zurich in Switzerland. Adept Technology Adept Technology is a Public company with a focus on Industrial & Manipulator &Mobile robotics. It is located at 5960 Inglewood Dr., Pleasanton CA in the United States. AeroVironment AeroVironment is a Public company with a focus on robotics. It is located at 181 West Huntington Dr., Monrovia CA in the United States. Aethon Aethon is a Private company with a focus on Medical & Assistive & Mobile robotics. It is located at 100 Business Center Drive, Pittsburgh in the United States. Airware Airware is a Private company with a focus onSoftware robotics. It is located at 1045 Bryant St., San Francisco California in the United States. Amazon Amazon is a Public company with a focus on Mobilerobotics. It is located at 410 Terry Avenue North, Seattle, WA in the United States. Anki Anki is a Private company with a focus on Software& Mobile robotics. It is located at 55 2nd Street, San Francisco CA in the United States. Autonomous Solutions Autonomous Solutions is a Private company with a focus on Mobile robotics. It is located at Autonomous Solutions, Inc., Petersboro Utah in the United States. Boeing Boeing is a Public company...
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