|
“You really need to develop a whole product solution—hardware, software, UI, interfaces, and process redesign—with a consideration for what problem you are really trying to solve.” —Aldo Zini
Getting large teams of robots to collaborate is the work of Dr Regis Vincent, who envisions applications that include mapping nuclear contamination.
What obstacles remain for robots to work alongside humans in industrial settings, and how far have we come in eliminating those challenges? Dr. Roland Menassa answers these and other questions in his presentation at the RoboBusiness summit November 2-3 in Boston.
John Reid, director of Product Technology and Innovation at Moline Technology Innovation Center, a part of John Deere’s Global Technology Innovation Network, discusses how his company’s technologies will help feed the world’s billions.
Mark Ingebretsen
abreast of the latest news, research, and business
analysis in key areas of the fast-changing
robotics industry
More iRobot Corp. (Nasdaq: IRBT) announced it received orders under two separate contracts from the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), that manages these contracts on behalf of the Robotic Systems Joint Project Office at Warren, Mich. and Huntsville, Ala.
PEO STRI placed a $16 million order, the third under the xBot contract, to put more than 200 robots and spare parts into the hands of infantry by October 31, 2008. Orders to date now total $27 million under this $286 million Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract.
iRobot also received a delivery order totaling $6.3 million under the PEO STRI contract for a combination of iRobot® PackBot® 510 with EOD kit robots, the iRobot PackBot with ICx Fido Explosives Detection Kits, as well as spare parts and equipment. Total orders under this $64 million IDIQ contract equal $52 million, and iRobot expects to complete delivery by the end of September 30, 2008.
“Each day, the military is using our robots to perform missions that leverage the benefits of robots in theater,” said Joe Dyer, president of iRobot Government and Industrial Robots. “Continued investment by the U.S. Army further validates these advantages, especially the ability to complete critical missions at safe standoff distances.”
The robots ordered under both contracts will help warfighters address critical mission needs, including reconnaissance, building clearance, chemical sensing, investigation of suspicious objects and identification of roadside bombs, as well as other IEDs.
iRobot has delivered more than 1,500 PackBot robots, which make a difference everyday by conducting dangerous missions that keep warfighters out of harm’s way.
About iRobot Corp.
iRobot is a provider of robots that perform dull, dirty or dangerous missions in a better way. The company’s proprietary technology, iRobot AWARE™ Robot Intelligence Systems, incorporates advanced concepts in navigation, mobility, manipulation and artificial intelligence. This proprietary system enables iRobot to build behavior-based robots, including its family of consumer and military robots. For additional information about iRobot, please visit http://www.irobot.com.
Contact
Investor Relations
Elise Caffrey
iRobot Corp.
P: (781) 430-3003
E:
Media Relations
Nancy Smith
iRobot Corp.
P: (781) 430-3323
E:
|