PackBot

PackBot being demonstrated by the French military

PackBot is a series of military robots by iRobot. More than 2000 were used in Iraq and Afghanistan.[1] They were then used again to aid searching through the debris of the world trade center after 9/11 in 2001.[2] PackBots were the first robots to enter the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[3] As of November 2014, the U.S. Army is refurbishing 224 iRobot 510 robots.[4]

iRobot

A brief history of the iRobot company:[5]

NASA and PackBots

The National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) has a partnership with the company, iRobot. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) is a facility responsible for the development of robotic space-crafts as well as the Deep Space Network.[6] Among these space-crafts are the rovers sent to the planet Mars. The rovers Spirit and Opportunity sent to Mars in 2003 are just two of the rovers managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Mars is not the only place employing iRobot technology. In 2011, Japan was rocked by a strong earthquake causing a meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear reactor. Two PackBot rovers were deployed into the ruins of the nuclear power plant to assess damage where the radioactivity was at high enough levels prohibiting humans from exploring.

The projects involving the cooperation of iRobot and NASA allowed the creation of high-tech machines. The much needed physical structure of the robots was designed by iRobot while the instruments and science equipment onboard was provided by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[7]

Current PackBot 510 variants

A U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician trains on iRobot's PCC, one of the remote control operation devices used to operate the Packbot.

PackBot 510 is the current base model. It uses a videogame-style hand controller to make it more familiar to young operators. Configurations include:

Packbot Performance

Packbot 510 has a maximum speed of 5.8 mph or 9.3 km/h, and weighs 31.6 lbs. or 14.3 kg.[11] The robot can traverse mud, rocks, stairs, and other surfaces due to its caterpillar track.[12] The robot also has zero radius turn capability and can climb up to a 60 degree incline. The dual BB-2590/U Li-ion rechargeable batteries allow for the robot to have a run time of 4 to 8 hours, and can maneuver in up to 3 feet of water.[12] Packbot has more than 40 accessories which are illustrated in Packbot 510 variants. Additionally, the robot can communicate up to 1000 meters or 3281 feet and captures information through four cameras with night vision, zoom, and illumination capabilities that allow for real time image processing.[13]

Previous PackBot variants

A U.S. Navy Sailor assigned to an explosive ordnance disposal team poses beside a PackBot.

Commercial Presence

iRobot, the company that produces PackBot isn't only known for creating military grade robots; they also have plenty of commercial robots on the market. These commercial robot's use some of the same technology as the PackBot's. Beginning in 2002 with the introduction of the Roomba- a robot capable of vacuuming floors by itself.[14]

Roomba Variants

In 2005 the company created the Scooba, a floor washing capable robot.[14]

Scooba Variants

In 2006 iRobot launched the Dirt Dog- (a shop sweeping robot) and in 2007 they launched the Create- (a programmable mobile robot) , Verro- (a pool cleaning) and Looj-(a gutter cleaning) robots. The There are no additional series of the Dirt Dog, Create, Verro and Looj robots. In 2013 iRobot another pool cleaning robot called the Mirra 530 and the Ava 500, a video collaboration robot. The company most recently released a mopping robot called the Braava, which currently consists of two variants[14]

Braava Variants

See also

References

  1. ↑ "iRobot Delivers 3,000th PackBot". Archived from the original on March 23, 2011.
  2. 1 2 CNN, By John D. Sutter,. "How 9/11 inspired a new era of robotics". Retrieved 2016-11-08.
  3. ↑ Nakata, Hiroko (2012-01-06). "Domestic robots failed to ride to rescue after No. 1 plant blew". The Japan Times. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  4. ↑ US Army Works Toward Single Ground Robot - Defensenews.com, 15 November 2014
  5. ↑ "History | iRobot". www.irobot.com. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  6. ↑ "About JPL". www.jpl.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2016-12-04.
  7. ↑ "NASA - NASA Technology Looks Inside Japan's Nuclear Reactor". www.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2016-11-14.
  8. ↑ http://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/issues/2006/November/RDcommand.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=314
  10. ↑ Marines happily recycle Army bots - MarineCorpstimes.com, 19 April 2014
  11. ↑ "http://endeavorrobotics.com/media/docs/Endeavor%20Robotics%20510%20PackBot%20Spec%20Sheet.pdf" (PDF). External link in |title= (help)
  12. 1 2 http://www.army-technology.com/projects/irobot-510-packbot-multi-mission-robot/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  13. ↑ "http://endeavorrobotics.com/media/docs/Endeavor%20Robotics%20510%20PackBot%20Spec%20Sheet.pdf" (PDF). External link in |title= (help)
  14. 1 2 3 "iRobot History". iRobot.com. iRobot Corporation. Retrieved November 13, 2016.

External links

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