Defense Tech: iRobots Sell, But Who's Buying?


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Edited by Christian Lowe \| Contact

iRobots Sell, But Who's Buying?

Someone must be using them, I guess. Otherwise, why would Naval Sea Systems Command buy another $26 million worth of iRobot's explosive-disposal machines? But I've never met a bomb squad technician who actually bothered with one of the things. Too flimsy, they all say. Too hard to operate.

The Baghdad Bomb Squad used their iRobots to decorate their shop. Not far away, at the U.S. military's central robot depot for Iraq, the iRobots sat on shelves, serenely gathering dust, while Foster-Miller's Talon robots would come back, scarred and in pieces, after being chewed up by a bomb.

Foster-Miller, though, doesn't have the PR megaphone that iRobot does. It doesn't have a cute, little household machine to go along with its battlefield models. And when you go to military trade shows, you only see Foster-Miller sporadically. iRobot always seems to have a booth. Maybe there's a connection, somewhere in there, to that big sale?

(Big ups: JQP)

UPDATE 1:50 PM: Of course. I shoulda figured. "Sen. John Kerry Visits iRobot to Congratulate Company on $26 Million U.S. Navy Contract."

Comments

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Posted by: order tramadol at August 23, 2008 08:16 AM

I wouldn't mind picking up on one or two of there extras. Got a number to call for this surplus?

Posted by: Jonathan at December 6, 2007 09:16 PM

I liked the post about Kennedy and his influence over the purchase of Irobots. The poster referred to name calling. Well, Kennedy is a drunk, women killer, crook, and idiot. How do you like those names.

Posted by: Tom at November 12, 2007 04:12 PM

iRobot will be around much longer than Remotec. Remotec is a dying company with no business and laying off over a third of its workforce earlier in the year. Remotec could not keep the customer happy by making what they want. iRobot has done this. It is evident that companies like iRobot that diversify will be around much longer than companies that sell old and anequated technology.

Posted by: George at August 16, 2007 06:29 PM

How about a little solidarity here guys. We are all Americans here, right.
Good for irobot. Good for Mass. if American companies can design anything to save lives, and build it in this country, it only makes sense for them to get this business. The enemy does not care if they kill republicans or democrats or civilians. United we stand, divided we fall.

Posted by: cj at December 29, 2006 04:14 PM

Charles' swipe at Sens. Kerry and Kennedy is ethically inappropriate and substantively bizarre. Even if they were not both wealthy men, it is totally ridiculous to suggest their procurement decisions could be swayed by a free dinner, Roomba, or anything else. Now that we're in the post-Abramoff, post-neocon, post-DeLay, post-Rove world, let's get back to solving problems instead of name-calling.

Posted by: Bob S, at November 11, 2006 05:11 AM

I'll tell you what is a success - just to bring a little levity to the conversation - the iRobot household robots. They may not be able to disarm a bomb just yet (it's coming) but I'll tell you what they can do. They can scooba and roomba the crap off my floors. And in testament to their growing power they now have a more industrial model aptly titled... wait for it... the Dirt Dog. Argh. Do not underestimate the power of the iRobot floor cleaning family.

Posted by: JackD at October 11, 2006 11:59 PM

I also work at remotec and I wonder, do any of you use the MINI, F6A or RONS ?
How do they perform and do you have any suggestions that I can pass along to the Boss?
We want to do all we can to help you guys.

Posted by: M.Kelso at August 12, 2006 09:55 AM

I am in the NAVY reserves and I volunteered to go to Iraq and fix the EOD bots; I spent 2 1/2 weeks driving the things around (fun) but then the I-ROBOT tech rep showed up for a day and showed us more about operation... so about 2 hours before his flight left I finaly decided to ask when he was going to show us how to "Fix" em, he grinned and chuckled and said "your not going to open em, your going to pack em up and send em to us". I decided to unvolunteer, apparently they wanted a gift wrapper not a tech; this was about 2 years ago, I understand the techs actually fix em now.

Posted by: irobot_fixer at July 20, 2006 07:12 AM

From the research I've done, IRobot shows up as a "partner" on the list of companies that are involved in the Future Combat Systems(FCS)program. Foster-Miller is not a partner and the fact that Qinteq is not a US based company probably precludes it from being a partner and thus lowers the Talon's visibility.

Posted by: kristina at June 26, 2006 01:16 PM

I am in the Guard and noticed this page. My Civ. Job is At Remotec, a Northrop Grumman Subsidary. They are also one of the leading EOD Robot contractors yet they were not mentioned. Just thought I would mention them. Thanks!

Posted by: PFC Gates at June 19, 2006 05:14 PM

Both robots have their place in the EOD load-out. I am currently serving in Iraq and one of the teams just blew up a Packbot on an IED. I really don't care who says who has the better robot. They are totally different and are treated that way. A Packbot can do great things with it's design. Stairs are a breeze and it wins hands down on searches. The Talon also has it's place. Simplicity is key when you have to get in and out in a hurry. Most techs I know like the fact that the Talon is idiot proof to operate. Others with more video game experience seem to do amazing things with a Packbot. As I mentioned earlier, I don't care who is better; I care about bringing guys home in one piece. And as for the picture you have at the top of the post; look under the Packbots and you will see Talons.

Posted by: Aaron Weissman at April 7, 2006 11:25 AM

Please note that this "thorn" fellow runs a blog that "covers the iRobot Corporation, including its key products... that will make our lives better and keep our troops safe."

"I am an iRobot investor," he adds, "because I believe the company is in the vanguard of the movement to transform robotics from a niche industry to an extremely profitable and increasingly ubiquitous technology that will soon be evident in households, vehicles, and businesses and make our world a cleaner, safer, smarter, more efficient place."

Posted by: Noah Shachtman at April 1, 2006 01:52 PM

Packbot and Talon each have their strengths. But Talon is much heavier, which makes it less convenient to have forward deployed. A Packbot can be in a backpack and ready to go at the drop of a hat. And the darn things are supposed to be able to be dropped from 25 feet without a problem, so ruggedness shouldn't be an issue.

Posted by: thorn_stevens at April 1, 2006 01:36 PM

Moose: good point about 9/11.

RedTzar: ditto on "crazy ivans."

nms

Posted by: Noah Shachtman at March 31, 2006 08:36 AM

I am an EOD Tech, & I have done my time in Iraq and I used the hell out of my Robot. Both the TALON & ANDROS, blown up one of each. So I know that they saved my life at least twice. I don't know a Tech who doesn’t use them religiously.

Posted by: Jim Mac at March 31, 2006 07:22 AM

I have met some EOD operators who claim that Talons
go "crazy ivan" when radio links are weak, while PackBots just stop. They say the PackBot is better once you learn how to use it. But it does take longer to learn it.

Posted by: RedTzar at March 31, 2006 05:34 AM

Just want to remind everyone that the "Kays" don't chair or lead the majority on any congressional committis. The guys with an "R" next to their name are greenlighting this stuff.

Posted by: Moose at March 31, 2006 03:08 AM

Whoaa was that a swipe at Kerry?

Whats up starting to get a little more "fair and balanced"?

Posted by: C-Low at March 30, 2006 10:19 PM

In our case, it's form over function and "Buy America"-mania. Which of the Kay's (Kerry or Kennedy) sits on the appropriate committee to make these determinations, and which one got a free Roomba to do it? (or a check, or a dinner, or whatever passes for subtle persuasion in these post-Abramoff days).

Posted by: Charles at March 30, 2006 09:50 PM

IRobot is located in MA, and is a US company.
Foster-Miller is located in MA, but is a wholly owned subsidiary of QinetiQ, which is a UK company.

Posted by: steve at March 30, 2006 08:16 PM

Its not just political pull. After 9/11 everyone saw images of Packbots picking through the rubble or rolling into afgan caves. So they're the populist choice.

Being man-portable I DO see the draw, but in Iraq man-portable isn't as much of an issue as "toughness".

Posted by: Moose at March 30, 2006 05:42 PM

Actually, Foster-Miller *is* part of a public company, Qinetiq.

Posted by: Noah Shachtman at March 30, 2006 05:12 PM

It doesn't have to be a "PR megaphone", it only has to be PR. Many defense companies are quite happy not promoting thier product. For what reason? Who knows... perhaps it is simply because that is not what thier mindset is. It also helps that Irobot is a public company and Talon is not. One has to promote thier product to keep shareholders happy. The other doesn't.

Posted by: paisley at March 30, 2006 05:08 PM

That's the point, Chris. The Talons are actually seeing action -- and saving lives.

nms

Posted by: Noah Shachtman at March 30, 2006 03:00 PM

"while Foster-Miller's Talon robots would come back, scarred and in pieces, after being chewed up by a bomb."

Wouldn't this be considered a success?

Posted by: Chris at March 30, 2006 02:52 PM

iRobots Sell, But Who's Buying?

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