Foster - Miller TALON The Foster - Miller TALON remotely operated vehicle is a small , tracked military robot designed for missions ranging from reconnaissance to combat . Overview . Foster - Miller claims the TALON is one of the fastest robots in production , one that can travel through sand , water , and snow as well as climb stairs . The TALON transmits in color , black and white , infrared , and / or night vision to its operator , who may be up to 1 , 000 m away . It can run off lithium - ion batteries for a maximum of 7 days on standby independently before needing recharging . It has an 8 . 5 hour battery life at normal operating speeds , 2 standard lead batteries providing 2 hours each and 1 optional Lithium Ion providing an additional 4 . 5 hours . It can also withstand repeated decontamination allowing it to work for long periods of time in contaminated areas . It was used in Ground Zero after the September 11 attacks working for 45 days with many decontaminations without electronic failure . This led to the further development of the HAZMAT TALON . It weighs less than 100 lb ( 45 kg ) or 60 lb ( 27 kg ) for the Reconnaissance version . Its cargo bay accommodates a variety of sensor payloads . The robot is controlled through a two - way radio or a Fiber - optic link from a portable or wearable Operator Control Unit ( OCU ) that provides continuous data and video feedback for precise vehicle positioning . Regular ( IED / EOD ) TALON : Carries sensors and a robotic manipulator , which is used by the U . S . Military for explosive ordnance disposal and disarming improvised explosive devices . Special Operations TALON ( SOTAL ) : Does not have the robotic arm manipulator but carries day / night color cameras and listening devices ; lighter due to the absence of the arm , for reconnaissance missions . SWORDS TALON : For small arms combat and guard roles . Tested in December 2003 in Kuwait prior to deployment in Iraq . HAZMAT TALON : Uses chemical , gas , temperature , and radiation sensors that are displayed in real time to the user on a hand - held display unit . It is now being tested by the US Armament Research Development and Engineering Center ARDEC . The robot costs approximately $ 60 , 000 in its standard form . Foster - Miller was subsequently bought out by QinetiQ , a United Kingdom military developer . SWORDS . SWORDS or the Special Weapons Observation Reconnaissance Detection System , is a weaponized version being developed by Foster - Miller for the US Army . The robot is composed of a weapons system mounted on the standard TALON chassis . The current price of one unit is $ 230 , 000 ; however , Foster - Miller claims that when it enters mass production the price may drop to between $ 150 , 000 and $ 180 , 000 . There are a variety of different weapons that can be placed on the SWORDS ; M16 rifle , 5 . 56 mm SAW M249 , 7 . 62 mm M240 machine gun , . 50 cal M82 Barrett rifle , a six barreled 40 mm grenade launcher or quad 66 mm M202A1 FLASH incendiary weapon . SWORDS units have demonstrated the ability to shoot precisely . It is not autonomous , but instead has to be controlled by a soldier using a small console to remotely direct the device and fire its weapons . Foster - Miller are currently at work on a " Game Boy " style controller with virtual - reality goggle s for future operators . In 2007 , three SWORDS units were deployed to Iraq . Each unit is armed with a M249 machine gun . This deployment marks the first time that robots are carrying guns into battle ; however , their weapons have remained unused as the Army has never given the go - ahead for using them . The Army stopped funding the SWORDS robots after deploying the initial three robots . Foster - Miller is working on a successor : the Modular Advanced Armed Robotic System ( MAARS ) By August 2013 , the Smithsonian Institution had acquired a SWORDS robot for its collection . One is also on display at the National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning , Georgia . Deployment . The Talon has been deployed in military service since 2000 - for example , in Bosnia for the movement of munitions and EOD ( explosive ordnance disposal ) to get rid of grenade s . It was also used in Ground Zero after the September 11th attacks in search and recovery . It is the only robot used in this effort that did not require any major repair . Foster - Miller claims the Talon was used for a classified mission by US Special Forces in the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan as well as in an EOD role . In Iraq its standard role has been performing EOD and IED destruction missions . Its combat SWORDS version is now being used there in a guard role protecting front line buildings from attack . According to Foster - Miller , the robot has performed around 20 , 000 EOD missions in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan .