MARCbot is a low cost robotic platform (costing about $8000) used in Iraq for the inspection of suspicious objects.[1] It is one of smallest and most commonly used robots in Iraq and looks like a small toy truck with an elevated mast on which a camera is mounted.[2] This camera is used to look, for example, behind doors or through windows without placing human soldiers in danger.[3] It is capable of running for 6 hours on a set of fully charged batteries and was developed with the input of soldiers in Iraq to meet their needs.
It was the first ground robot to draw blood in Iraq.[4] One unit jury-rigged a Claymore antipersonnel mine on their units. If they suspected an ambush they would send the robot ahead. If an insurgent was seen the Claymore would be detonated.