Book Launch: Dancing with Roomba by Joseph L. Jones
Content
Talk: 1–2 p.m., CSL E144
Reception: 2–3 p.m., CSL E302, Physical Computing Makerspace
Join us to celebrate the publication of Dancing with Roomba: Cracking the Robot Riddle and Building an Icon by roboticist and innovator Joseph L. Jones—an inside look at the creation of everyone’s favorite working robot. The event will feature a talk by the author, followed by a reception in the new Manning CICS Physical Computing Makerspace.
The first 150 attendees will receive a complimentary copy of the book.
Register to get a reminder on the day of the event.
Co-sponsored by the UMass Amherst Manning College of Information and Computer Sciences and the Riccio College of Engineering.
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About the Book
Dancing with Roomba tells the unexpected story of the world's favorite robot.
For five decades, corporations spent millions pursuing a floor-cleaning robot. Legions of engineers toiled, dozens of patents were issued, yet every effort failed. Then came Roomba. Selling nearly 50 million units since its launch, Roomba's unlikely success sprang from a breakthrough at an MIT robotics lab, an inventor who persevered through years of setbacks, and an inspired team that worked as one to smash every problem. This book provides a rare view behind the scenes, revealing how a revolutionary product came to be, how it works, and how a tiny company was able to best a crowd of corporate giants.
About the Author
Joseph L. Jones, a lifelong tinkerer and inventor, focuses on the practical application of robotic technology to real-world problems. In that pursuit he co-founded Tertill Corporation, a manufacturer of robots that weed home gardens, and Harvest Automation, Inc., a company that builds autonomous robots for the nursery and greenhouse industry. At both firms he served as CTO. Earlier, as senior roboticist, he spearheaded the development of Roomba, the world's first successful home floor-cleaning robot. A graduate of MIT, he is author of three earlier books on robotics and holds over 80 US and several international patents.