iRobot has announced that the company has received a $3.75 million research and development contract from the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC), the nation's laboratory for advanced military automotive technology.

Work under this contract will result in the delivery of two iRobot Warrior 700 platforms.

A powerful and rugged robot, the iRobot Warrior can perform a variety of critical missions such as evaluating danger zones and inaccessible areas, providing real-time video, audio and sensor readings to warfighters and SWAT teams.

The robot will feature an advanced digital architecture and a multi-mission chassis that supports up to 150-pound (68 kg) payloads.

"We are confident that the iRobot Warrior will secure a strong foothold within infantry, first responders and combat engineers," said Joe Dyer, president of iRobot Government and Industrial Robots.

"The Warrior is another example of iRobot's product line expansion, which continues to evolve as the need for unmanned ground vehicles grows worldwide."