Brazil Buys PackBots for Large Event Security

Photo courtesy iRobot Corp.

By Danielle Lucey



IRobot Corp. has secured a $7.2 million contract from Brazil’s government to provide 30 PackBots to state and local officials for law enforcement in light of many upcoming large-scale events in the country. The sale marks the first in Brazil for the company.



“We’re very excited about establishing a very strong foothold in Brazil,” says Tim Trainer, vice president of robotics products. “The customer is very excited to get the capability, and we expect that there will be additional requirements within Brazil and perhaps elsewhere in Latin America.”



The robots will aid security in upcoming events, including the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, World Youth Day 2013, the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.



The contract includes the systems, initial support, training and extended support of 510 PackBots.



“I think the concept of operations is similar to the way local police forces in the U.S. use them and first responders use them to investigate suspicious activity,” Trainer says. “To minimize impacts of events, so they can send a robot without putting a first responder in jeopardy, hopefully to defuse an event before it becomes more dangerous or more lethal.” 



Trainer said iRobot won the contract through a competitive procurement process, and the company’s 510 PackBot most closely fit the bill for the requirements provided by Brazil’s local and federal law enforcement. The Brazilian government began investing what type of robotic capabilities it wanted about a year ago, says Trainer.



The robots are currently making their way through customs en route to Brazilian law enforcement, says Trainer, and will be used for first event in a month’s time.