Date: Sep 07, 2010 Source: Aerospace & Defense News (
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BEDFORD, Mass., Sept. 7, 2010 -- iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader in delivering robotic technology-based solutions, today announced that it has received a $14 million order from the U.S. Army TACOM Contracting Center in Warren, Mich. The order calls for the delivery of iRobot Aware® 2 robot intelligence software and spare parts for iRobot PackBot tactical mobile robots. This order will allow the Army to upgrade their existing iRobot 510 FasTac fleet to the iRobot 510 PackBot multi-mission robot.
This is the twentieth order under the $286 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) xBot contract. The current total contract value now stands at approximately $143 million.
The iRobot 510 PackBot multi-mission robot performs bomb disposal and other dangerous missions for warfighters and is being used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Powered by iRobot Aware® 2 robot intelligence software, 510 PackBot is a highly adaptable robot. The robot's modular digital architecture accommodates a wide variety of interchangeable payloads that enable a wide variety of missions. 510 PackBot can be reconfigured quickly, based on the needs of the mission and the operator's preferences. iRobot Aware® 2 software also allows for the implementation of assistive autonomous operations, reducing operator workload and providing increased situational awareness.
"We are pleased to be providing these important software upgrades and spares to the Army," said Robert Moses, president of iRobot's Government and Industrial Robots division. "This will allow a more standardized fleet of robots that can accept additional upgrades in the future as new payloads are developed and autonomous capabilities increase. The order also ensures that these robots are properly maintained and ready to be deployed on the battlefield where they are saving lives every day."
iRobot has delivered more than 3,500 unmanned ground vehicles to the military and civil defense forces worldwide.
