iRobot - Robots for the Real World : Press Release Detail

iRobot - Makes Gun-Toting Robot and Files for IPO

Last week, iRobot Corp, makers of the Roomba filed for an initial public offering (IPO). This is exciting news for the future of robotics and a sure sign that robots are finding their place in our lives.

Though you most likely know iRobot as makers of the Roomba and the new Scooba, you may not know that the bulk of the company seems to be focused on government and industrial robots. A visit to the iRobot website will give you an idea of the scope of their development in this area. But they are not showing you the full line of robots that they have developed for the government.

I received a tip from someone who was lucky enough to get a tour of the iRobot facility. He assures me that they have robots with assorted weapons. He personally saw a robot with a machine gun attached.

Now I'm sure these are just remote control robots that are under the full control of their operators. But I can help thinking, "Run like hell! The robot's got a gun!"