NEW BEDFORD, Mass., March 6 (UPI) -- U.S. company iRobot has received a $1.5 million U.S. military contract for its FirstLook robots.
The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization contract provides for the purchase of more than 100 of the company's model 110 FirstLook small, light and throwable robots.
The 5-pound FirstLook is ideally suited to a wide range of infantry and special operations missions, including building clearing, raids and other close-in scenarios, iRobot said in a release.
Tim Trainer, iRobot Military Robots business unit interim general manager, said: "iRobot has received very positive feedback from the field about FirstLook's capabilities and we are excited about the advantages this game-changing robot will provide to our troops.
"Similar to how iRobot's PackBot and small unmanned ground vehicle robots changed the way explosive ordnance disposal missions are conducted, we feel FirstLook will change how infantry and special operations missions are performed in the years ahead."
The company said future design capabilities will include two-way audio communication and digital mesh networking.
