iRobot Transphibian, High Speed UUV Hunt Mines, Other Underwater Threats (w/Video)

iRobot's website includes two interesting underwater robot pilot projects I hadn't seen before -- the iRobot Transphibian AUV, a highly flexible underwater robot that can crawl as well as swim long distances with the strength to carry large cameras, sensors and other items. Its ability to crawl allows it to scope out and neutralize undersea mines in shallow areas where other undersea robots are unable to venture.
CNET's MilitaryTech noted the ability of the Transphibian to hunt mines as a Kamikaze last year, and likened it to bomb-clearing operations done by robots on land (PackBot, anyone?).

iRobot's web page also features the iRobot High Speed UUV, which travels at speeds up to 15 knots.
The HIgh Speed UUV is described as: "Developed for platform defense of submarines and surface ships at sea and in port, the iRobot High Speed UUV enables rapid transit with respect to a threat, such as a diver advancing toward a ship."

(Memo to Scuba divers: steer clear of iRobot's underwater bad boys!)

The Transphibian and the High Speed UUV are listed as pilot projects by iRobot, rather than the iRobot Seaglider, which is competing for a major Navy contract that could be announced in November, and the iRobot Ranger, a smaller underwater robot acquired as part of the company's recent acquisition of underwater robot pioneer Nekton.

iRobot clearly has big plans for its underwater division, given its too major investments to date, and the company is hiring engineers and support staff to bulk up its operations, according to the company's job listings. Hopefully, Joe Dyer, the company's president of Government and Industrial robots and an old Navy hand, can come through with a win here. The company, and IRBT stock, sure could use it.

Here is a video of the Transphibian in action:


There also was mention of the Transphibian (and a photo) back when iRobot purchased Nekton in the News & Observer.
-Thorn

Tags: iRobot, robot, transphibian, UUV, Seaglider, robot, Navy