iRobot receives order from the US Army for $35.3 Million

2nd September 2009 - 14:30 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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iRobot today announced that it received an order for $35.3 million from the US Army TACOM Contracting Center in Warren, Mich.

This order falls under the $286 million Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) xBot contract and calls for the delivery of 486 iRobot PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit robots prior to March 31, 2010. The total contract value to date under this IDIQ is approximately $125 million.

“This order is truly a significant milestone for iRobot,” said Joe Dyer, president of iRobot Government and Industrial Robots. “Not only is it the single largest order we have ever received from the military, but it also proves that there is strong and continuing support for our PackBot FasTac platform that was introduced just last year.

One of the robot’s strengths is its adaptability. It is well-suited for use by combat engineers, route clearance companies and infantry brigades. This is important as our troops continue to fight wars on multiple fronts, each possessing its own unique mission types and challenges.”

The PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit provides warfighters with the ability to see and assess dangerous areas from safe standoff distances and to clear routes while on the move. The robot is controlled through a ruggedized laptop with game-style controller, operates at speeds of up to 5.8 miles per hour and provides up to four hours of mission run time. In addition, the PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit’s compact arm and precise gripper allow warfighters to safely pick up and identify suspicious objects.

iRobot has delivered more than 2,500 PackBot robots that make a difference every day by conducting dangerous missions that keep warfighters out of harm’s way.