Roboteam names Heidi Shyu board chairman

Roboteam North America announced this morning it has named Heidi Shyu, the former Army acquisition chief, chairman of the company's board.

Shyu "will lead the strategic operations for growing Roboteam's unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) business and continue to build upon their outstanding global reputation," the company said in its announcement.

Last year, she joined Roboteam's advisory board.

In an interview with Inside Defense, Shyu said she has been impressed by Roboteam's agility and focus on their customers.

She also praised the company's unmanned systems as easy to use.

"I have seen so many systems that are so complicated," she said. "These systems are easy to use from the beginning."

As chairman, Shyu said she would be adding two new board members. "That was my initial focus -- bring some senior leadership onto the board to really help shape the strategy," she said.

"To me, what's absolutely critical is I don't end up killing the spirit and the agility they currently have," Shyu added.