Miniature Recon Scout reconnaissance robots designed to protect dismounted soldiers

EDINA, Minn. - AUGUST 23, 2011 -) ReconRobotics, Inc. announced today that it has been awarded a series of contracts by the U.S. Military for 385 of its Recon Scout XT micro-robot kits. Also included in these orders are a large number of Recon Scout SearchStick devices, which can be used by warfighters to convert any Recon Scout Throwbot into a pole camera. ReconRobotics plans to complete deliveries of these robot systems by August 30, 2011.

"Nothing makes us more proud than designing and building products that help our U.S. Armed Forces safely and successfully complete their missions," said Ernest Langdon, Director of Military Programs for ReconRobotics. "Our military sees these durable, easy-to-deploy micro-robots as a critical piece of gear for dismounted troops, not unlike their ballistic vests and helmets. Not only do these robots provide immediate visual reconnaissance that saves lives, but they do so without substantially increasing the carry burden of our dismounted fire teams."

This series of military orders signals an increasing emphasis on personal micro-robots that are deployed at the fire-team level - i.e., one robot for each four- to six-man fire team. Until now, the majority of deployed military robots have been Small Unmanned Ground Vehicles (SUGVs) that weigh 30 to 40 lbs and are typically deployed at the company level (80 to 200 soldiers) to assist in counter-IED missions.

Nearly 2,000 of the company's Recon Scout Throwbot systems have been deployed by the U.S. military and international friendly forces, and by hundreds of law enforcement agencies, worldwide. The company's Recon Scout XT weighs just 1.2lbs (524g), and yet it can be deployed in five seconds and thrown up to 120 feet (36m). Like the warfighter's ballistic vest, the miniature Recon Scout XT is a personal device that protects soldiers - in this case by maximizing their situational awareness and standoff distance. During dismounted operations, warfighters often encounter armed personnel or Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). The Recon Scout system mitigates risk to the warfighter by revealing the internal layout of the enclosed spaces, identifying potential IEDs and the fixing the location of (friendly, indigenous or enemy) personnel prior to making entry.

About ReconRobotics, Inc.
ReconRobotics is the world leader in tactical, micro-robot systems. The company's Recon Scout Throwbot system saves lives by providing immediate situational awareness and greater standoff distance to warfighters and law enforcement personnel. These capabilities protect personnel from hidden threats, enhance mission planning and execution, and minimize collateral damage. The company was formed in 2006 to commercialize robotics technology developed at the University of Minnesota Distributed Robotics Laboratory under funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). ReconRobotics is based in Edina, Minnesota, USA and markets its products through a distribution network in 33 countries.