6. iRobot 510 Packbot, USA
Manufacturers: Endeavor Robotics (former name, iRobot)
Primary Users: U.S. Army, NASA
Program Cost: $4.4 million* Unit Cost: $162,293*
The PackBot, made by iRobot, which is now called Endeavor Robotics, is a military robot. The robots have been in production since the 1990s, and they have grown increasingly advanced over time. The 510 PackBot, which is the latest series, is capable of a lot of different functions.
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Variants include 510s for bomb disposal, situational awareness for first responders, explosives detection, sniper detection, and IED inspection. After the meltdown of the Fukushima nuclear reactor, Japan sent two PackBots in to assess the damage in highly radioactive areas of the destroyed plant. The PackBot travels at 5.8 miles per hour, and it has a caterpillar track, which means it can traverse rocks, mud, stairs, and other rough terrain, including up to 60-degree inclines.
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