iRobot has declared that it has obtained two contracts from the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO). The first $920,000 worth agreement focuses on supplying iRobot’s Seaglider Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) with options. The value of the second contract including options is $9000,000. It calls for restoring, upgrading and supporting the present group of Seaglider UUVs of NAVOCEANO for another three years.
SeaGlider UUV
The Seaglider can dive into deep waters and can carry out research for many months covering a vast area. It can be deployed to obtain ocean data and can be controlled by researchers from any part of the world. Recently it was employed in the Gulf of Mexico for helping scientists to gather information regarding the impact of oil leak.
The University of Washington licensed the Seaglider technology in 2008 and iRobot has been enhancing the efficiency and design layout of the system. So far, the company has obtained 30 procurement orders for its Seaglider UUVs.
Robert Moses, President of iRobot’s Government and Industrial Robots Division has stated that Seaglider can sustain up to ten months with the power offered by a single battery and it also serves as a cost-effective method of gathering data for the scientists.
Till date, around 135 Seaglider systems have been delivered to global clients like the U.S. Navy, several research and government firms etc.