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Developers Choose iRobot Platforms to Create
Robot Applications
Programmers
Showcase New Applications at RoboBusiness
Conference and Exposition
PITTSBURGH, PA,
June, 19, 2006 -
The
increasing adoption of robots
that do dull, dirty and
dangerous tasks has sparked a
new class of developers,
creating a variety of innovative
robot applications. iRobot
Corp.'s (Nasdaq:IRBT)
world-renowned robots and iRobot
AWARE(TM) Robot Intelligence
Systems have emerged as the
platforms of choice for this
activity. iRobot has also
released the iRobot Roomba(R)
Open Interface to encourage
developers to create this new
generation of applications.
The iRobot Roomba Open
Interface is a serial protocol
that allows developers and
roboticists to use the Roomba
Vacuuming Robot as a platform to
implement their ideas, without
having to build a robot from
scratch. Using the Open
Interface, a developer can
remotely monitor the robot's
sensors and control its motors.
In addition, the iRobot
PackBot(R) is also gaining
popularity for its modular
architecture, which allows
developers to integrate various
payload capabilities onto the
robot to help keep first
responders and troops out of
harm's way.
"With the growing popularity
of robots, more people would
like to see robots handle the
dull, dirty and dangerous
tasks," said Helen Greiner,
co-founder and chairman, iRobot.
"These interfaces to our robots
give developers a head start on
creating cool and practical
applications quickly --
contributions that will
significantly benefit the robot
industry and customers."
At this week's RoboBusiness
Conference and Exposition,
participants will view many of
these new applications in the
iRobot Developers booth, located
at Grand Station 5, TT-18 and
19. All Roomba robots
manufactured after October 2005
come equipped with the Open
Interface. For additional
details on the Open Interface,
please visit
http://www.irobot.com.
Home Robots
Robot enthusiasts have
already taken advantage of
iRobot Roomba's versatility to
build a variety of applications
that allow the robot to do more
than just clean floors.
For example, Mind Control for
iRobot Roomba, created by
Element Products, Inc., lets you
take command of your Roomba
robot. This small and powerful
device plugs into Roomba's
expansion port and lets you
write custom programs for Roomba
in C and C languages. It
includes sample programs that
allow teachers and hobbyists to
drive the Roomba in patterns,
monitor sensors and turn Roomba
into a musical instrument (http://www.elementdirect.com).
Roomba DevTools, by
Robodynamics, is a set of
development tools that allow
users to control the Roomba
platform right from their
computers via Bluetooth, USB or
serial interfaces (http://www.roombadevtools.com).
Government and Industrial
Robots
Government, university and
private sector labs are
developing payloads on iRobot
PackBot's digital architecture
platform to cater to the needs
of first responders and U.S.
troops. Several organizations
have built various payload
prototypes for the PackBot,
including systems for sniper
detection and chemical
detection.
The Photonics Center at
Boston University, along with
Insight Technology and
BioMimetic Systems, has
developed a payload prototype
dubbed the REDOWL (Robot
Enhanced Detection Outpost with
Lasers) for the iRobot PackBot.
It is an acoustic detection
system that allows soldiers and
first responders to locate
snipers and mortars once the
first shot is fired at personnel
or vehicles.
Also, Edgewood Chemical
Biological Center has selected
the PackBot EOD robot as the
platform of choice to create a
new radiation and chemical
detection payload to safely
detect compounds while keeping
first responders out of harm's
way. Edgewood Chemical
Biological Center is based at
Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md.,
home to the U.S. Army Research
Development and Engineering
Command.
About iRobot Corp.
iRobot is a provider of
robots that perform dull, dirty
or dangerous missions in a
better way. The company's
proprietary technology, iRobot
AWARE Robot Intelligence
Systems, incorporates advanced
concepts in navigation,
mobility, manipulation and
artificial intelligence. This
proprietary system enables
iRobot to build behavior-based
robots, including its family of
consumer and military robots.
For additional information about
iRobot, please visit
http://www.irobot.com.
For iRobot Investors
Certain statements made in
this press release that are not
based on historical information
are forward-looking statements
which are made pursuant to the
safe harbor provisions of the
Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. These
statements are neither promises
nor guarantees, but are subject
to a variety of risks and
uncertainties, many of which are
beyond our control, which could
cause actual results to differ
materially from those
contemplated in these
forward-looking statements.
Existing and prospective
investors are cautioned not to
place undue reliance on these
forward-looking statements,
which speak only as of the date
hereof. iRobot Corporation
undertakes no obligation to
update or revise the information
contained in this press release,
whether as a result of new
information, future events or
circumstances or otherwise. For
additional disclosure regarding
these and other risks faced by
iRobot Corporation, see the
disclosure contained in our
public filings with the
Securities and Exchange
Commission including, without
limitation, our most recent
Annual Report on Form 10-K.
iRobot Corp.
Parna Sarkar, 781-418-3135
psarkar@irobot.com
or
A&R Partners for iRobot Corp.
Charlotte Crivelli, 212-905-6147
ccrivelli@arpartners.com
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