Editor’s Note – iRobot Corporation of Bedford was among three companies and individuals honored with Next Century awards at the AIM centennial gala on Monday.

iRobot stands at the vanguard of a growing robotics industry that is redefining the future of the Massachusetts economy. Founded in 1990 by Massachusetts Institute of Technology scientists, the company’s robots help people find smarter ways to clean their homes, to protect those in harm’s way and to enable virtual presence from anywhere in the world.