INSIDE TELEDYNE’S $62 MILLION ORDER FOR ROBOT CENTAUR CARS
Teledyne FLIR Defense, part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, keeps our military personnel out of harm's way. On July 7, 2022, Teledyne announced they received new orders from the Department of Defense to manufacture 500 of what they call the robot Centaur \. These robots are incredible pieces of machinery, and for a total cost of $62.1 million, they better be. Let's check out what these unmanned ground vehicles are offering our military to keep them taken care of. More like this:Mobile Protected Firepower Contract Awarded for New Army Tanks
What's the Robot Centaur?
The robot Centaur is an unmanned ground vehicle that aids Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams. It detects and defuses unexploded ordnance (UXO), landmines, improvised explosive devices, and similar threats. Centaurs are applicable because they can detect the presence of landmines and safely dispose of them without risking service members' lives. Some of their features include an advanced Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) camera, a manipulator arm that stretches over six feet, and the ability to climb stairs. It can also use modular payloads to detect chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. So yeah, we guess it's worth that $62.1 million, right? Well, we'll let you be the judge of that. Still, before you make your decision, according to Tom Frost, general manager of Unmanned Ground Systems at Teledyne FLIR Defense, "Our Centaur platform continues to prove itself as one of the most versatile and sought after tactical Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) to support America's military." The Centaur car is medium-sized compared to other military unmanned ground vehicles Teledyne produces. For example, the Kobra robot, a bigger version of the Centaur, weighs well over 500 pounds.
How Much Are Centaur Unmanned Ground Vehicles?
In 2017, the Army selected the Centaur robot for its Man Transportable System Increment II (MTRS Inc. II) contract, valued at around $190 million. Now, the U.S. Army and Navy command requested nearly 500 more Centaurs for $62.1 million, raising the value of the contract to over $250 million. Since 2017, the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines have each deployed the Centaur system, and orders for the robot have totaled more than 1,800 over the years.
About Teledyne FLIR Defense
Founded in 1978, Teledyne FLIR works as a leading provider in intelligent sensing, unmanned systems, and integrated solutions for defense. They employ more than 3,500 people worldwide, producing advanced technology capable of helping professionals/military personnel make better, faster decisions that save lives. Teledyne Technologies works as a top provider of advanced digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. They operate mainly in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe.
The Future of the Robot Centaur
The robot Centaur is a piece of valuable equipment that benefits our EOD technicians tremendously. It allows them to investigate situations without putting their lives on the line. Moving forward, most U.S. Armed Forces branches will receive Centaurs, and delivery for the initial batch arrives in the first quarter of 2023. Related read:Meet the Sig MCX Rattler: Latest Defense Weapon for U.S. Special Ops
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.