Article Posted on : - Oct 13, 2010

Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles (SUGV). Photo: Boeing

HUNTSVILLE (BNS): Boeing and iRobot Corporation have received a $3.84 million contract from US Air Force to develop Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles (SUGV) for the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.

Under the Indefinite delivery, Indefinite quantity contract, the companies will build up to 70 model of 310 SUGV robots by September 2012.

"Boeing and iRobot are pleased to expand our customer base to the US Air Force, placing this key technology into the hands of airmen around the world. The 310 SUGV system will provide the Air Force with the capability that our current customers have come to rely on in dealing with dangerous situations in war zones," Bob DaLee, Robotics programme manager, Boeing Network & Tactical Systems said.

"Robots like the 310 SUGV have already proven their worth on today’s battlefield," Robert Moses, president of iRobot’s Government and Industrial division said.

In 2007, Boeing and iRobot build a strategic alliance for the production of SUGV family of vehicles.

It is designed to give war-fighters, a real-time awareness of critical situations and to allow them to complete missions from safe standoff distances.

It is ideal for a variety of mission types, including EOD, route clearance and reconnaissance.