Robots from South East Tennessee!

Robots manufactured in Clinton, Tennessee are doing hazardous duty for U.S. forces in Iraq.

Remotec Inc., a division of Northrop Grumman, supplies robots for the military, law enforcement and first responders. About 25 to 30 percent of its business is in robots for the military. Many are used in first encounters with potential explosive devices, just like the Remotec HD-1 robot seen in Academy Award-winning movie, "The Hurt Locker."

The HD-1, a compact, fast and lightweight robot, received its own Academy Award during an "all hands" employee meeting at the Clinton facility in March after "The Hurt Locker" won Oscars for Best Picture and in five other categories. Remotec loaned the robot for use in the movie, and the robot and a technician spent two months in Jordan, where the film was made.

Remotec, located in Anderson County's Eagle Bend Industrial Park, was founded in 1980 by two Oak Ridge engineers to build robots to handle radiological equipment. Some, like Remotec, have a share of that business. Its parent firm, Northrop Grumman, is listed among the top 10 who have contracts with the Department of Defense in 2009.

Science Applications International Corporation, with offices in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and CAPE Incorporated, with offices in Knoxville, Tennessee, are global corporations that compete for government contracts.