Money Talks: iRobot to Sell Defense Division Thanks to Activist

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Money Talks: iRobot to Sell Defense Division Thanks to Activist

February 4th, 2016

Awake Goy

Susanne.Posel-Headline.News.Official- irobot.packbot.sold.military.defense.robots_occupycorporatism Susanne Posel ,Chief Editor Occupy Corporatism | Co-Founder, Legacy Bio-Naturals

Thanks to the pressure enforced by activist shareholders, iRobot will sell its defense and security division to Arlington Capital Partners (ACP), for an estimated $45 million.

Red Mountain Capital (RMC), the activist shareholder, strongly encouraged iRobot to pursue “strategic alternatives” to the defense division which is actively working with the US Armed Forces to expand their capabilities into the area of robotics.

iRobot is the manufacturer of Roomba vacuuming robots, and PackBot for bomb disposal and surveillance missions; as well as Korba for assisting in carrying heavy equipment over difficult terrain.

This department has open contracts totally earnings of $24.5 million as of last year, and are projected to increase because they have “a long, proud history of providing robotic technologies that keep military personnel and public safety professionals safe.”

The deal with ACP and iRobot will create “a new robotics company from the D&S business” for the vacuum manufacturer for the purpose of being able to take advantage of “significant growth opportunities in the consumer market” to become “the leader in diversified home robots”.

The push for iRobot to sell their defense arm might have something to do with recent impressive advancements such as an app called uPoint Multi-Robot Control (PMRC) which allows for a more “intuitive way to control robots”.

According to iRobot, “With a significantly reduced learning curve and more reliable, robust communications, public safety, military and industrial personnel are set to become more proficient robot operators than ever before. The system is made up of an easy-to-use, android™-based controller and a world-class robot radio network. Together, they allow you to communicate further downrange – driving, manipulating and inspecting across iRobot’s family of robots.”

The website details how “every movement of your robots can be controlled from your fingertips” via the Android-based controller that utilizes a touchscreen as with tablets and smartphones.

Because the controller is running an Android™ application, do everything from one device. Consult reference materials, check your email and use your other favorite apps to improve productivity and save time.
Connect to the cloud for downloading service updates, uploading data to other apps, like EVIDENCE.com™ and much more.
Record and playback all the data displayed on your controller for after-action review. If desired, upload digital evidence, like screenshots or videos via industry apps.
Observer mode where data displayed on the operator’s controller can be displayed to team members or other remote observers.
When it’s time to update software, product sustainment is easier than ever before, thanks to remote updates and embedded training videos and maintenance functions.

In conjunction with the PMRC, the uPoint Robot Radio (PRR) “offers smart networking and more reliable, robust communication between the robot operator, the robots, and any remote observers.”

Through a mesh, these robots can “link their communications together to extend operations further into buildings and widen the operating range” to account for missions in “complex urban settings and in communication-congested environments.”

For the last 2 years, iRobot has been collaborating with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to replace conventional weapons with robotic threats.

These robots are used along the Gaza border as an “additional tool for soldiers patrolling the area” to ensure that “no enemy forces have penetrated the fense or laid explosives.”