New public safety robot variant announced

BEDFORD, Mass., Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Massachusetts-based iRobot Corp. has launched a new reconnaissance capable robot technology designed for public safety authorities.

iRobot announced the release of iRobot Negotiator, which enables basic reconnaissance capabilities for municipal security personnel. Company officials say the Negotiator technology is an effort to offer a lower-cost reconnaissance robot based on the company's PackBot 510 technologies deployed by the military in combat zones.

The PackBot 510 is an advanced reconnaissance robot technology that officials say is not practical for basic public safety reconnaissance needs. The Negotiator was designed to address the needs of police departments, fire departments and domestic security experts in a public safety climate.

"We are excited about the potential of iRobot Negotiator for a range of public safety professionals," Joe Dyer, iRobot Government and Industrial Robots president, said in a statement.

"There is growing support and demand for unmanned ground robots, as people recognize the difference they make by offering life-saving eyes-on benefits to teams in the field. We believe that the low entry price point for iRobot Negotiator will help make it accessible to local, state and federal agencies that would not have been able to afford a robot otherwise."