You may know iRobot’s because of this little bugger. What you may not know is that iRobot produces not only cleaning bots, but also military grade tactical robots such as the PackBot, which they have already marketed to the U.S. Army.

However on Tuesday, iRobot made the announcement that the contract they previously had with the U.S. Army Program Executive Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation for purchasing their more combative line of robots – of which they have sold more than 1,700 already – has been expanded to a figure up to $200 million and increased in scope.

The contract now covers not only further models of military robots based on the PackBot technology, but also includes the provision of spare parts, training and robot maintenance services over the next five years.

According to a statement by iRobot, the contract is “ceiling priced Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ)” which means that it allows for flexibility in services according to the Army’s needs, and also means that the U.S. may not spend the full $200M if not deemed necessary.

Joe Dyer, president of iRobot government and industrial robots has stated that "We are pleased that this contract will allow iRobot to expand our product offering as the Army sees fit, as each of our robots possesses specific capabilities that allow troops to complete a wide range of missions."

Although the iRobot Corporation produces a wide range of commercial and military products, they have focused so far on the former, and it looks like with this contract, iRobot is looking to further expand into the domain military applications. IRobot have also announced a low-cost tactical robot for use in police forces and other public safety organizations.

IT can climb stairs, check for dangerous chemicals and explosives, and report findings to remote operators. The robot was announced last month and will be delivered by the end of this year.