iRobot wins U.S. Army training contract

BURLINGTON, Mass., Dec. 27 (UPI) -- iRobot Corp. said last week it had won a new $286 million U.S. Army training and simulation contract.

iRobot Corp. said in a statement Dec. 18 it had "been awarded the xBot contract, a $286 million Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity -- IDIQ -- contract from the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation -- PEO STRI -- on behalf of the Robotic Systems Joint Project Office at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. Under the terms of the contract, the Army could order up to 3,000 military robots, spare parts, training and repair services over the next five years."

"The award marks a turning point in the way the Army uses robots in combat, which until now have been deployed in limited numbers only to explosive ordnance device -- EOD -- specialists. With this award, the Army broadens the deployment of robots in larger scale to general infantry forces for a variety of critical missions in addition to EOD. iRobot immediately will begin to deliver the first 101 robots for urgent deployment," the company said.

"This new generation of robots is set to arrive in theater and change the way the Army fights," said Joe Dyer, president of iRobot Government and Industrial Robots. "Robots give our troops the distinct advantage of completing critical missions at a safe distance; more robots create a greater strategic advantage. We are honored to serve our troops by delivering these robots for urgent deployment."

iRobot said it was "selected to fulfill the contract as the lowest priced, technically qualified bidder deemed able to deliver as a responsible contractor."

iRobot said its successful xBot prototype robot was "based closely on the combat-proven iRobot PackBot military robot platform."

"xBot is a generic name, and the robots delivered to forces under the contract will be named iRobot PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit. These robots are smaller and lighter than the iRobot PackBot 510, with a robust gripper and an observation mast equipped with a low-light-capable zoom camera," the company said.

"iRobot said it had "delivered more than 1,200 PackBot robots, which are at work conducting dangerous missions."