The Boeing and its partner iRobot company have received an order of providing small unmanned ground vehicles (SUGV) to the U.S.Army. The order is or 94 mew models of 310 SUGV robots, plus spares for a total value of $14.6 million."Boeing and iRobot are pleased to be working with our customers to provide this life-saving technology in response to urgent war fighter needs," said Bob DaLee, Robotics program manager for Boeing Network & Tactical Systems. "The 35-pound 310 SUGV system provides the dismounted Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician with the ability to perform reconnaissance during extremely hazardous EOD missions involving unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices."

Boeing and iRobot have developed SUGV family of vehicles under a strategic alliance that began in 2007. SUGV is a smaller and a lighter version of the existing combat vehicle PackBot. It allows the controller to experience the real time situation without putting himself in the danger and complete the mission from a safe distance. It can also undertake various missions like EOD, route clearance and reconnaissance. As Boeing is the prime contractor it provides the programme management, contracts, government-test support, and quality control support. iRobots is responsible for engineering, government-test support, manufacturing, training and logistics services.

“Robots have played an important role on the battlefield for years now, and their numbers in theatre are growing," said Joe Dyer, president of iRobot's Government and Industrial Robots division. "War fighters can carry and quickly deploy the SUGV at a moment's notice, which is crucial in challenging environments such as Afghanistan. These robots are saving lives every day."