iRobot’s PackBot and SeaGlider

iRobot is a pioneer in military robots. The American advanced technology company founded in 1990 by three MIT graduates. They first grabbed the commercial market’s eyeballs with Roomba, the vacuuming robot, but their primary focus has always been on developing cutting edge technology that can be adapted to practical use, especially in space exploration and by the military.

The PackBot is a series of military robots that were used in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are unmanned robots that may be sent into locations which are not safe for humans to enter. The PackBots were also used to explore the nuclear radiation debris in Fukishama, Japan and to search for survivors in the debris of the World Trade Center after the terror attack of 9/11. the technology of the PackBot is also used by NASA in it’s space rovers. The science project to improve functioning and increase applications is a constant one.

The SeaGlider is a battery operated AUV or Autonomous Underwater vehicle. The AUV is able to monitor physical, chemical and biological conditions in the ocean. This including hydrocarbon monitoring at up to 10 months and thousands of miles in the ocean. It can operate at depths up to 1,000 meters. The deep diving, unmanned vehicle was first developed at the University of Washington, but iRobot got a five year exclusive license to produce the vehicle which can be used for a number of purposes. They range from research vehicles  used by Oceanographers to more covert and tactical assignments with the U.S. Navy.