New U.S. patent for iRobot

U.S. company iRobot Corp. has received a patent for a system in which a robot autonomously returns to its operator in a failed wireless communications scenario. The patent for its "retrotraverse" technology (U.S. Patent No. 8,108,092) is the 100th U.S. patent the company has received for its robotic technologies. Colin Angle, chairman and chief executive officer of iRobot, said, "iRobot has made significant investments to protect its intellectual property. "We have been both strategic and aggressive in filing U.S. and international patent applications relating to key product features and innovations, and we have entered into partnerships that allow for the cross-licensing of product portfolios. "These steps are important in maintaining our position as the leading publicly traded, pure-play robotics company and in sustaining a long-term competitive advantage." The retrotraverse technology patented is used with the company's 510 PackBot with User Assist Package, which is employed by the military. The company also received a patent covering sonar technology in its iRobot Ava mobile robotics platform and additional U.S. and international patents have been applied for.