PackBot

PackBot is a tracked military robot built by iRobot (and later acquired by Endeavor Robotics / FLIR). It was one of the first robots deployed at Ground Zero after September 11, 2001, searching for survivors in the rubble. Over 6,000 PackBots were deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, primarily for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) — it has been credited with saving thousands of lives. PackBot weighs about 24 kg, can climb stairs, and is operated via a ruggedized controller. It carries cameras, sensors, and manipulator arms for handling suspicious objects. The military adoption of PackBot proved the value of telepresence robots in dangerous environments.