The Centaur robot is primarily used by Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams to handle dangerous tasks such as disabling improvised explosive devices, landmines, and unexploded ordnance. It offers flexibility as operators can quickly attach different sensors and payloads to address various missions, including handling chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats.
FLIR Defense was selected by the U.S. Army as the MTRS Inc. II system provider in 2017, and since then, other military branches have also procured the robot for their EOD units. Teledyne FLIR Defense has received orders for over 1,800 MTRS Inc. II robots from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, amounting to more than $250 million.
Dr. JihFen Lei, the executive vice president and general manager of FLIR Defense, expressed pride in the Centaur’s popularity, stating that it has become the most widely produced tactical unmanned ground vehicle used by the U.S. military since the Gulf Wars. The Centaur robot weighs around 160 pounds and features advanced visual/thermal camera capabilities for day and night operations, a dexterous manipulator arm with a reach of over six feet, and the ability to climb stairs. Modular payloads can be added for CBRN detection and other operations.
