DEMAND for robotics continues to grow as iRobot reports winning $19 million in new orders in one week.
The Massachusetts-based company has announced it won a $5.1 million order from the Army TACOM Contracting Center for 14 iRobot PackBot 510s.
iRobot also won a $13.5 million contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command to deliver PackBot Man Transportable Robotic System robots, spare parts, accessories and related services.
The PackBot MTRS robot gives explosive ordnance disposal technicians the ability to detect, identify and disable explosive devices from safe distances. It is customised for NAVSEA and is modelled after the iRobot PackBot 500 with the explosive ordnance disposal kit.
iRobot says the PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit ordered by the Army is a lighter-weight alternative to other explosive ordnance disposal robots. It is used by soldiers and Marines in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
The robot gives warfighters the ability to investigate areas and suspicious objects using its cameras and other sensors. Video and information are sent back to the operator through a laptop.
iRobot has delivered more than 2,500 PackBot, company officials said.
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