iRobot Corp. [IRBT] yesterday revealed pre-production prototypes of the iRobotr 110 FirstLook(tm) unmanned ground vehicle (UGV).
A small, light and throwable robot, 110 FirstLook provides hasty situational awareness, performs persistent observation and investigates confined spaces, the company said. The robot weighs less than five pounds and is 10 inches long, making it ideal for building clearing, raids and other close-in scenarios.
“FirstLook is going to be a very important tool for warfighters and first responders,” said Robert Moses, president of iRobot’s Government and Industrial Robots division. “Given its small size, ruggedness and state-of-the-art capabilities, the robot is ideal for a range of infantry missions and special operations.”
110 FirstLook survives 15-foot drops onto concrete and is waterproof to three feet. The robot climbs steps, overcomes curbs and other obstacles, turns in place and self-rights when flipped over.
With four built-in cameras and two-way audio communication, 110 FirstLook provides multi-direction situational awareness. It also has digital mesh networking capabilities, allowing multiple robots to relay radio communications over greater distances. 110 FirstLook uses a wrist-mounted, touchscreen operator control unit (OCU) with a built-in radio.
Over the next several months, iRobot will demonstrate 110 FirstLook for military and law enforcement personnel. The robot will be available for delivery to customers in 2012.