[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 52 (Thursday, May 4, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S4047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        RECOGNITION OF AN OUTSTANDING MASSACHUSETTS CORPORATION

 Mr. KERRY. Mr. President, I am honored to recognize iRobot 
Corporation, an outstanding Massachusetts company that develops cutting 
edge technology, and to congratulate the board, management team and 
staff on the quality products they provide to our armed services.
  Minimizing troop casualties is an endless task for both our civilian 
and military leaders, and I am proud to represent a State that hosts 
some of the country's leading thinkers in addressing that challenge. I 
had the pleasure of visiting such a company recently and I was deeply 
impressed by the commitment and perseverance of the people at iRobot.
  Founded in 1990 by three roboticists from the Massachusetts Institute 
of Technology--Helen Greiner, Colin Angle and Rodney Brooks--iRobot 
designs behavior-based, artificially intelligent robots. These robots 
are built to perform dangerous duties that would otherwise risk the 
lives of our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. Their economic impact on 
our state is considerable. As a homegrown Massachusetts business, 
iRobot brings in millions of dollars in revenue to the State's economy, 
and it is the only publicly traded company dedicated solely to this 
emerging industry.
  I recently had the opportunity to see firsthand an extraordinary 
piece of equipment developed by iRobot--the PackBot Tactical Mobile 
Robot. The PackBot is a lightweight robot designed to disarm IEDs. 
There are currently more than 300 PackBot robots deployed in Iraq, 
Afghanistan, and around the world. Since mobilization, PackBot robots 
have performed thousands of missions and in the process saved countless 
soldiers' lives.
  I applaud iRobot's efforts to develop 21st century technology to help 
our troops accomplish their missions, and I am very proud that such an 
exemplary company calls Massachusetts home.

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