News Release

Additional Funds Accelerate Development of Small Unmanned Ground

BURLINGTON, Mass., May 31, 2005 – iRobot Corp. today announced a significant increase in its U.S. Army Future Combat Systems (FCS) contract to develop the next-generation Small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (SUGV). The new funds – now $51.4 million, up from $37.3 million previously – will expedite the development of the FCS SUGV through expanded training, as well as modeling and simulation work. iRobot also plans to hire additional engineers for the project.

The FCS SUGV is a smaller, lighter successor to the legacy iRobot PackBot®, a combat-proven, man-portable UGV used daily in Iraq and Afghanistan to safely disarm improvised explosive devices and search buildings, caves and tunnels for the presence of hostile forces.

“Small unmanned vehicles have proven invaluable on the battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan, and they are an important component of the FCS program, which aims to meet unforeseeable combat threats with the most advanced technologies for sensing and responding to danger,” said Dennis Muilenburg, vice president and general manager for Future Combat Systems at Boeing. “iRobot’s pioneering expertise in military robotics is giving our soldiers a decisive advantage on the battlefield, while helping to keep them out of harm’s way.”

The FCS SUGV is a compact version of the widely deployed iRobot PackBot, a portable, reconnaissance and tactical robot designed to assist soldiers in close-quarters combat and reduce their risks in dangerous situations. The FCS SUGV’s rugged, lightweight body will make it easier for a single soldier to carry and quickly deploy the robot. It is designed to enter and secure areas that are either inaccessible or extremely risky and dangerous for warfighters, and provide real-time intelligence while allowing the soldiers to maintain a safe distance from the enemy. By being linked in to the FCS network, the images and information gained by the SUGV can rapidly be made available to the warfighter.

“The FCS SUGV will be like its predecessor in that it handles deadly and dangerous missions including reconnaissance for explosive ordnance disposal. But because it will be smaller and lighter, it has greater flexibility in the field,” said Vice Admiral Joseph Dyer (U.S. Navy, Ret.), executive vice president and general manager of iRobot’s Government & Industrial Robotics division. “The additional FCS funds allow us to reduce risk, speed deployment and otherwise maximize advantages inherent in our combat-tested SUGV platform.”

iRobot recently passed its FCS Lead Systems Integrator (LSI) internal CMM level 2 assessment, leading towards an independent CMM3 assessment and certification planned for the end of 2005. CMM2 was an internal assessment performed by the FCS LSI with oversight provided by the Army and DCMA team to demonstrate adherence to the FCS principles of software configuration and program management. iRobot is under contract with Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC), which, teamed with Boeing, serves as the FCS LSI.

“This FCS contract will stimulate the job market in the greater Boston area, a region with a high concentration of the specialized robotics talent this FCS project requires,” said Helen Greiner, chairman and co-founder of iRobot. “Since January of this year, iRobot has hired dozens of new employees. Contracts like this one from FCS allow us to hire the best talent and dedicate them toward developing robots that handle dirty, dull and dangerous tasks and help keep our soldiers safe.”

iRobot and the other 22 “Best of Industry” partners in the FCS program are working to lead the development and demonstration phase of the Army program. FCS is a networked “system of systems” composed of 18 components, from troop carriers and self-propelled artillery to robots, unmanned ground vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles and sophisticated sensors. FCS uses advanced communications and other technologies to link soldiers with the components of the system, giving them access to data that can provide a much more accurate picture of the combat environment than ever before available.

About iRobot Corp.
iRobot has a long commitment to building robots 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. In 2004, iRobot's talent base grew by over 40 percent and the company will continue to hire outstanding talent to meet its business plan. For employment opportunities and other information about iRobot, please visit www.irobot.com.

Approved for Public Release, Distribution Unlimited, TACOM 18 May 2005, case 05-068.