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"There's something pretty damn appealing about a controllable robot that can be hurled through a window and live to tell the tale. It looks like the military brass agree; The Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) has ordered over 100 of iRobot's 110 FirstLook scouting units. Unsurprisingly, these robots are tougher than your garden variety RC vehicle. Aside from managing our desperate throws, these can survive 15-foot drops, self-right, relay radio communication over a digital mesh network and feed back video from its four built-in cameras. After a year of internal testing, the bots will get their first on-the-job trial in an \"operational assessment\" later this spring. Check out the (military) man-toy in action right after the break.Show full PR text        iRobot receives military order for FirstLook robots      Represents first significant order of company's small, light and throwable robot         BEDFORD, Mass., March 6, 2012 &amp;ndash; iRobot Corp. (NASDAQ: IRBT), a leader   in delivering robotic technology-based solutions, received a $1.5   million order, funded by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat   Organization (JIEDDO), for more than 100 of the company's model 110   FirstLook&amp;trade; robots. Since its introduction last year, the iRobot 110   FirstLook has undergone extensive testing and demonstrations with the   customer. All robots under this order have been delivered and will   take part in an operational assessment this spring.      FirstLook is a small, light and throwable robot. It is ideal for a   wide range of infantry and special operations missions, including   building clearing, raids and other close-in scenarios. With four   built-in cameras, FirstLook provides multi-direction situational   awareness while keeping the operator out of harm's way.      FirstLook possesses a unique set of capabilities. While it weighs just   five pounds, it is robust enough to survive 15-foot drops, overcomes   obstacles as high as seven inches and automatically self-rights when   flipped over. Future capabilities include two-way audio communication   and digital mesh networking, which will allow multiple robots to relay   radio communications over greater distances.      \"iRobot has received very positive feedback from the field about   FirstLook's capabilities, and we are excited about the advantages this   game-changing robot will provide to our troops,\" said Tim Trainer,   interim general manager of iRobot's Military Robots business unit.   \"Similar to how iRobot's PackBot and SUGV robots changed the way   explosive ordnance disposal missions are conducted, we feel FirstLook   will change how infantry and special operations missions are performed   in the years ahead.\""^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/06/irobots-throwable-110-firstlook-bot-gets-drafted-into-the-mil/>