ST. LOUIS, 7 May 2007. Boeing and iRobot Corp. have signed a teaming agreement to design and develop a next-generation, small unmanned ground vehicle (SUGV), called the SUGV Early. The vehicle will provide military, civil, and commercial users with reconnaissance and secure, real-time intelligence capabilities.

The SUGV Early will be a smaller, lighter version of the iRobot PackBot, which is used in Iraq and Afghanistan to disarm improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and search buildings, caves, and tunnels for hostile forces.

To date, iRobot has delivered more than 900 PackBot robots to a broad range of military and civilian customers worldwide.

The remotely operated and maneuverable SUGV Early will feature a video camera and commercial electro-optics, infrared sensors mounted on an articulated manipulator arm, and a track-driven chassis that will allow it to negotiate rough terrain and stairs.

The 30-pound backpackable unit is designed for use in a range of hazardous situations, such as bomb disposal and disaster relief operations. The system, which utilizes commercial off-the- shelf technology and employs the basic design of future networked robotic systems currently under development for the U.S. Army, will be ready for delivery in 2008.

Under the agreement, Boeing will provide expertise in systems integration, large volume production, and global marketing, while iRobot will design, develop, and manufacture the robots. Boeing and iRobot will jointly offer these commercial robots to all U.S. Department of Defense, civil, and international markets.