QinetiQ North America's (booth 2949) throwable robot Dragon Runner 10 has garnered another contract with the US Marine Corps, totalling $4.3 million for near-term operational support.
The 10-pound robot, which fits in a backpack and can be driven or thrown into a situation to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support, brings the total number of ground robots delivered to 4,000.
"What we're finding then and now is they're looking for the ability to take action," says Ed Godere, senior vice president of unmanned systems, on the Dragon Runner's record with the marines.
And QinetiQ North America is looking to enhance opportunities for action with a new manipulator arm created by the company that latches onto Dragon Runner. Although the system is no longer throwable in this configuration, the arm quickly snaps on and off and is powerful enough to manipulate any suspicious wires or other debris.
Dragon Runner is under consideration by the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization (JIEDDO) for its joint urgent operational need for a lightweight, throwable robot. Godere said he anticipates a decision from JIEDDO later this fall.
Source: Flight Daily News