Article Posted on : - May 02, 2011

SUGV is a small, light and rugged robot that gathers situational awareness in dangerous conditions while keeping warfighters out of harm’s way. Photo: iRobot Corp.

BEDFORD MASSACHUSETTS (BNS): US Army has awarded iRobot Corporation a $7.6 million contract for the procurement of 50 of its 310 SUGV (Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle) tactical mobile robots and spare parts.

US Army's Contracting Command-Warren in Michigan issued the new indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract for the delivery of the tactical mobile robots, according to a news release by iRobot.

"310 SUGV has proven its worth as a man-portable, rugged and easy-to-use robot. As a result of ongoing positive user feedback and its success on the battlefield, 310 SUGV will now be used to perform an even wider variety of missions," Robert Moses, president of iRobot’s Government and Industrial Robots division, was quoted as saying in the release.

The 310 SUGV collects situational awareness in perilous conditions while keeping the soldiers away from harm. The 310 SUGVs have normally been used by the explosive ordnance disposal teams, but this set of SUGVs would be utilised by Marines and combat engineers. Unlike the 320, the 310 is equipped with a robotic arm. It weighs about 35 pounds.

iRobot and Boeing developed the SUGV family of vehicles under a strategic alliance that began in 2007.