By Ann Roosevelt
The Army yesterday said that iRobot [IRBT] was awarded the $286 million indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract that could call for as many as 3,000 robots, spare parts, training and repair services over the next five years.
“We’re pleased twice–we’re pleased to have what some here have described as a [author John] Grisham novel, included, and we are also significantly pleased that this solidifies iRobot’s position as the clear market leader for mobile robots for the Army,” Joe Dyer, president of iRobot Government and Industrial Robots, told Defense Daily.
The reference to legal thriller writer John Grisham comes because of actions iRobot has brought in federal and state court against Robotics FX for copyright infringement and other points.
Initially, on Sept. 14 the x-Bot contract was awarded to Robotic FX as the lowest bidder fulfilling all the qualifications. Both awards were issued by the Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO STRI), on behalf of the Robotic Systems Joint Project Office at Redstone Arsenal, Ala.
However, the Massachusetts Federal District Court Nov. 2 issued an injunction on Robotic FX. Therefore, the company cannot provide the identical robot that it demonstrated during the source selection process. Since Robotic FX cannot manufacture the same product that was awarded under the contract, they have terminated the agreement without cost to PEO STRI.
As a result, PEO STRI awarded iRobot, the next lowest priced, technically qualified bidder, with the xBot contract.
The x-Bot robots procured under this contract will be primarily used for explosive ordnance detection, identification and reconnaissance, PEO STRI said in a statement. Until now, these robots were provided only to explosive ordnance device (EOD) specialists.
iRobot said the award marks a turning point in the way the Army uses robots in combat–now with this award, the Army broadens the deployment of robots in larger scale to general infantry forces for a variety of critical missions in addition to EOD.
iRobot was selected to expeditiously produce the iRobot PackBot 510 with FasTac Kit–the company description of the robot entered into the x-Bot competition. It’s a light, small robot equipped with a manipulator arm and low-light capable zoom camera.
“Both technically and in terms of business, the x-Bot contract is a bridge between today’s EOD robots and tomorrow’s [small unmanned ground vehicle] SUGV, which will be part of the Army’s Future Combat System,” Dyer said. “The chassis is very similar to PackBot, but instead of having the three segment arm that makes up the EOD robot it has a single segment arm. It’s been modified to be as light as possible and to meet the requirement of being 50 pounds or less.”
“The immediate fielding of an acceptable product that met specification requirements was of paramount importance,” Joanne Byrd, PEO STRI contracting officer for the xBot, said.
Dyer said, “We will deliver the first two robots on the 8th of January. We deliver five in February, and then in March we ramp up to 30 a month and we’ll be delivering at 30 a month going forward. We have the production capacity and that’s not going to be an issue.”
“The value of a man-transportable robotic system with camera and manipulator arm used to counter the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) threat and minimize risk to personnel cannot be over emphasized,” Dennis Schneider, PEO STRI project director for robotics support, said. “This is a critical combat need in theater and is immediately and directly linked to reducing casualties.”
Thus, PEO STRI will provide the first 101 robots for urgent deployment immediately. The urgency of deploying these robots to theater lies in the fact that they allow Soldiers to perform critical missions at a safe distance away from an actual or potential IED.
“Robots give our troops the distinct advantage of completing critical missions at a safe distance; more robots create a greater strategic advantage,” Dyer said.
To date, iRobot has delivered more than 1,200 PackBot robots, which are at work conducting dangerous missions while warfighters remain out of harm’s way.