New military robots unveiled

BEDFORD, Mass., April 6 (UPI) -- Pre-production prototypes of a small and light ground robot for military missions have been unveiled by Massachusetts' iRobot Corp.

The unmanned ground vehicle, 110 FirstLook, provides hasty situational awareness, performs persistent observation and investigates confined spaces, the company said.

It weighs less than 5 pounds and is 10 inches long, making it ideal for building clearing, raids and other close-in scenarios.

"FirstLook is going to be a very important tool for warfighters and first responders," said Robert Moses, president of iRobot's Government and Industrial Robots division. "Given its small size, ruggedness and state-of-the-art capabilities, the robot is ideal for a range of infantry missions and special operations."

The company said the 110 FirstLook vehicle survives 15-foot drops onto concrete and is waterproof to depths of 3 feet. The robot climbs steps, overcomes curbs and other obstacles, turns in place and self-rights when flipped over.

The machine is equipped with four built-in cameras and two-way audio communication. It also has digital mesh networking capabilities, allowing multiple robots to relay radio communications over greater distances.

The device uses a wrist-mounted, touch screen operator control unit with a built-in radio, the company said.

Over the next several months, iRobot will demonstrate 110 FirstLook for military and law enforcement personnel and will be available for delivery to customers in 2012.