Navy Celebrates Delivery of 1000th MTRS Robot

The Navy recently celebrated the delivery of the 1000th Man Transportable Robotic System (MTRS) to joint service explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians around the globe during a recognition ceremony at the Naval EOD Technology Division (NAVEODTECHDIV). Developed in accordance with joint service EOD requirements over a two and a half-year period and beginning out of the ashes of the (Sept. 11, 2001) terror attacks, the MTRS program robots today are used primarily in the Global War on Terrorism to seek out and destroy improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Ellen Purdy, a director for the Joint Ground Robotics Enterprise under the Office of the Secretary of Defense, noted that five years ago, there were only three ground robots. The MTRS is a program of record with two major defense manufacturers: Foster-Miller Inc. and iRobot Corp. Small in stature—standing only a couple of feet high—the robots have two monikers: “PackBot” and “Talon” for the respective EOD MK1 Mod 0 and EOD MK2 Mod 0 robot configurations. The first production lots were delivered in December of 2005. Both robots consist of a teleoperated vehicle with a manipulator, Operator Control Station (OCS), and an integrated firing circuit to initiate EOD tools. The EOD robots minimize time-on-target and operator exposure as they are extremely versatile, designed to work wherever EOD missions occur, can negotiate terrains such as stairs, slopes, rubble, high embankments, and are interoperable with nuclear, biological and chemical detectors. The mission of the NAVEODTECHDIV is to exploit technology and intelligence to develop and deliver EOD information, tools, equipment and their life cycle support to meet the needs of Joint Service EOD operating forces and other customers.