Army to accelerate iRobot FCS SUGV testing

BURLINGTON, Mass., Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The U.S. Army announced plans to accelerate testing of Massachusetts-based iRobot Corp.'s future combat systems small unmanned ground vehicle robot program.

iRobot is a developer of robots that perform various missions for the U.S. military and commercial markets. The company has been informed of U.S. Army Evaluation Task Force plans to accelerate iRobot's FCS SUGV robot development program testing. Company officials say the updated plan calls for the delivery of 25 FCS SUGV robots by April 2008.

"FCS SUGV is a tactical reconnaissance robot designed to assist soldiers in obtaining intelligence in dangerous or otherwise inaccessible areas. Modeled after the combat-proven iRobot PackBot, the SUGV offers multiple video sensors for real-time day, night tactical situational awareness," the release said.

"We continue to receive a tremendous amount of positive feedback from soldiers in theater that iRobot PackBot is an essential tool for ensuring mission readiness and improving situational awareness to keep soldiers out of harm's way," retired U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Joseph Dyer, iRobot's government and industrial robots division president, said in a statement.

"We see this acceleration as clear evidence of the U.S. Army's recognition of the critical role robots play in arming soldiers with the best intelligence and combat options to provide clear advantage on the battlefield."

The AETF will begin evaluation and testing of the robots in May 2008.