U.S. Navy orders new robots, servicing

BEDFORD, Mass., Oct. 6 (UPI) -- iRobot has received contracts from the U.S. Naval Surface Warfare Center for support services for MK1 robots in use and for production of new units.

The two multi-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contracts have a combined ceiling value of $96 million. Initial initial orders worth $7.9 million have already been made.

"iRobot values its long standing service to multiple agencies within the Department of Defense," said Tom Frost, senior vice president and general manager of iRobot's Defense & Security business unit. "Our family of robots are smart, light, rugged and easy to use. We take pride in the role they play to keep our service members safe, and we remain committed to ensuring the U.S. Navy's MTRS fleet is equipped with the latest in robotic technologies to combat threats that persist globally."

The Man Transportable Robotic System MK1 robots are based on the company's 510 PackBot, a small, tracked robot used in explosive ordnance disposal and other tasks such as reconnaissance and surveillance.

It has a speed of as much as 5.8 miles per hour, can climb 60 deegree inclines and can be submerged to a depth of three feet.

The first contract to iRobot from the Indian Head Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division of the warfare center is for support services, upgrades and spares for MK1 robots.

The second IDIQ contract is for production of new MTRS MK1 robots, depot level repair parts, spares, consumables and approved accessories.

iRobot has so far delivered more than 5,500 of its defense and security robots to military and civil defense forces around the world.