U.S. Army orders more battlefield robots

HUNTSVILLE, Ala., July 27 (UPI) -- Boeing and partner iRobot Corp. have received a new task order to an existing contract to provide Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles to the U.S. Army.

Under the order, worth $14.6 million, the companies will supply 94 new model 310 SUGV robots, plus spares.

Boeing said in a news release that the order is the fifth under the original contract and brings the total number of units ordered to 323.

"Boeing and iRobot are pleased to be working with our customers to provide this life-saving technology in response to urgent warfighter needs," said Bob DaLee, Robotics program manager for Boeing Network & Tactical Systems. "The 35-pound, 310 SUGV system provides the dismounted Explosive Ordnance Disposal technician with the ability to perform reconnaissance during extremely hazardous EOD missions involving unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices."

The SUGV family of robots was developed by the two companies under an alliance that began in 2007.

The SUGV is a smaller and lighter version of the PackBot and gives troops real-time awareness of critical situations and to complete missions from safe standoff distances.