News Release

Unique Modular Firing System Incorporated into Combat-Proven iRobot PackBot EOD

BURLINGTON, Mass., May 10, 2005 – iRobot Corp. has been awarded a patent for a modular firing system that makes a robot’s actions safer and more reliable when disposing of dangerous explosive devices. iRobot, with its history of innovation, holds 19 U.S. patents as well as several patents in foreign countries and has more than 25 patents pending.

The new patent, U.S. Patent No. 6,860,206, entitled “Remote Digital Firing System,” covers technology already incorporated into the iRobot PackBot® EOD, an explosive ordnance disposal robot being used daily to disable roadside bombs and other improvised explosive devices in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Explosive devices are unpredictable and deadly, making robots the ideal candidate to disarm them,” said Vice Admiral Joe Dyer (U.S. Navy, Ret.), executive vice president and general manager of iRobot’s Government and Industrial Robotics division. “iRobot’s new firing system technology is a breakthrough that will ensure that the operator can remain fully in control of the ability to fire at all times, allowing the robot to complete its mission safely and effectively.”

The firing system allows bomb technicians and soldiers to fully control the ability to fire and safely detonate dangerous explosives at maximum standoff distances, keeping them out of harm’s way. The patented technology routes both the firing circuit and the main robotic controls through a single communications system, eliminating the possibility that one line of communication could inadvertently become inoperable. For example, in other bomb disposal robots, the radio system that drives the robot is separate from the radio system that controls the firing system, raising the possibility that a robot could be driven out of the firing system’s range.

iRobot’s new patented technology overcomes this problem with layers of safety, including multiple electronic redundancies and resistance to electrostatic discharge. These features guard against malfunction or loss of mission. Additionally, the firing circuit features a modular, plug-and-play design, allowing multiple firing circuits to be added without having to retest and recertify the entire robot.

iRobot PackBot EOD is a rugged, lightweight robot designed to assist in explosive ordnance disposal, search-and-surveillance and other hazardous tasks for military units and state, local and municipal bomb squads. It can be carried by a single person and handle a full range of conventional ordnance disposal and improvised explosive devices. iRobot PackBot EOD’s lightweight, ruggedized OmniReach Manipulator System can reach as far as two meters in any direction to assess and safely disrupt improvised explosive devices.

About iRobot Corp.
iRobot is best known in the military for setting the new standard in mobile, agile robotics for reconnaissance and other tactical applications. iRobot has a long commitment to building robotic products that make living safer and easier for people in many walks of life. Over the past 15 years, iRobot has developed and built innovative products for the military, government security agencies, law enforcement and the consumer marketplace. In 2003, co-founders Helen Greiner and Colin Angle were named Ernst & Young regional Entrepreneurs of the Year for their innovative work in technology. For additional information about iRobot, visit www.irobot.com.