Manipulator arms for use by unmanned underwater vehicles in interrogating and neutralizing explosive devices are to be developed by RE2 Inc. of Pennsylvania.

Development of the Underwater Dexterous Manipulation System for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Applications comes under a $2.7 million contract from the Office of Naval Research.

"We are honored that ONR chose RE2 to develop a strong, highly dexterous underwater manipulation system," said Jorgen Pedersen, president and chief executive officer of RE2. "We thrive on complex engineering challenges and are excited to leverage our mobile manipulation expertise for the underwater systems market."

RE2's technology will provide explosive ordnance disposal personnel with the ability to remotely and effectively address waterborne improvised explosive devices, including those placed in ports and on bridge pilings.

Pedersen said RE2 is working to develop the manipulator arms with help from a number of organizations, including Bluefin Robotics, The Pennsylvania State University Applied Research Lab, and the Navy's SPAWAR Systems Center Pacific.