NationStates Jolt Archive

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/images/hs/hs1558762_1.jpghttp://www.hamiltonspectator.com/images/hs/hs1558762_2.jpg

Meet Troy Hurtubise. A Canadian inventor fresh from the success of his "bear protection suit", he is now perfecting a practical armored suit (http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1168470616997&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815) for the army.

He has spent two years and $15,000 in the lab out back of his house in North Bay, designing and building a practical, lightweight and affordable shell to stave off bullets, explosives, knives and clubs. He calls it the Trojan and describes it as the "first ballistic, full exoskeleton body suit of armour."

Crazy as it sounds, the outfit seems quite solid:

The whole suit -- which draws design inspiration from Star Wars, RoboCop, Batman and video games -- is made from high-impact plastic lined with ceramic bullet protection over ballistic foam.

Its many features include compartments for emergency morphine and salt, a knife and emergency light. Built into the forearms are a small recording device, a pepper-spray gun and a detachable transponder that can be swallowed in case of trouble.

Dangling between the legs, that would be a clock.

In the helmet, there's a solar-powered fresh-air system and a drinking tube attached to a canteen in the small of the back. A laser pointer mounted in the middle of the forehead is ready to point to snipers, while LED lights frame the face.

The whole suit comes in at 18 kilograms. It covers everything but the fingertips and the major joints, and could be mass-produced for about $2,000, Hurtubise says.

I've got to say, this is quite a relief after seeing the US Army's ridiculous bee-keeper-like get-up (can't find a good photo -- sorry). You think this new model could ever work out in the field?

Full story here (http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1168470616997&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815).

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/images/hs/hs1558762_1.jpghttp://www.hamiltonspectator.com/images/hs/hs1558762_2.jpg

So this dude from Canada, fresh from the success of his "bear protection suit", is now perfecting a practical armored suit (http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1168470616997&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815) for the army.



Crazy as it sounds, the outfit seems quite solid:



I've got to say, this is quite a relief after seeing the US Army's ridiculous bee-keeper-like get-up (can't find a good photo -- sorry). You think this new model could ever work out in the field?

Full story here (http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1168470616997&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815).

Dangling between the legs, that would be a clock.

I know clock rhymes with cock, but that's taking it too far.

Other than that, sounds cool.

I know clock rhymes with cock, but that's taking it too far.

Other than that, sounds cool."Yo Charlie... what time is it? Nah, I don't wanna look, you tell me"

how flexable is it. can one move easily while wearing it?

Cool can I get one?

Looks a bit too bulky for combat armour though, so I dought you could equip every solider with it.

Does it have a trap door for when that bearsuit man needs to take a shit in the woods?

18kg sounds a bit on the heavy side for regular use, especially combined with the usual pack weight a soldier might carry. maybe okay for for occaisional use for maybe minesweepers or whatever they're called.

Sounds too bulky. I promise you that whatever armor you come up with, someone will defeat it. Using a system like that takes away from the mobility of a soldier, which is how he stays alive - remember that most of combat is manuvering. Also, it would seem to me that it would hamper a variety of tasks, such as building positions, laying a howitzer, etc., not to mention the fact that people have a hard time wearing MOPP and personal armor because of heat injuries to begin with, and NBC protection doesn't seem like its built into this. Also, what is the point of having LED lights built into it? Maybe I misconstrued the article, but the last thing I would want is to light myself up like that.

The idea is intriguing, but unpowered armor has more disadvantages than advantages, I think.

Also, we call the minesweeping types 'engineers.'

Also, we call the minesweeping types 'engineers.'

i thought it might be one of their duties but i wasn't sure.

If he could make it lighter he could be onto something. And yes, it does seem a bit stupid lighting up the face with LEDs.

Dudes, I think it means LED flashlights, sorta fing.

Dudes, I think it means LED flashlights, sorta fing.
Maybe, but looking at this (http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/images/hs/hs1558762_2.jpg) picture, it seems it's already got a decent flashlight, so why the need for more?

Oh, and Rhaomi, I have to say you picked easily the best bit of the article to quote for the title. :D

Does it have a trap door for when that bearsuit man needs to take a shit in the woods?

Roflcopter.

The thing in the middle is a laser pointer. The two things to it's left and right are the LED flashlights.

Maybe it'd just be better off as bear armour. Looks too bulk-tastic for it to be much use in the army.

The thing in the middle is a laser pointer. The two things to it's left and right are the LED flashlights.
Hmmm, in that case, the person who wrote that description is an idiot. That's hardly 'framing' the face, now, is it?

Oh, and Rhaomi, I have to say you picked easily the best bit of the article to quote for the title. :D

I aim to please. :p

And apart from the humor angle, that line really speaks to the comfort and mobility of the suit. You'd think wearing bulletproof body armor for an hour-long drive would get pretty uncomfortable pretty quickly, but it didn't.

Plus, it has magnetic holsters! *coolness*

I aim to please. :p

And apart from the humor angle, that line really speaks to the comfort and mobility of the suit. You'd think wearing bulletproof body armor for an hour-long drive would get pretty uncomfortable pretty quickly, but it didn't.

Plus, it has magnetic holsters! *coolness*

A four-hour drive. I can only imagine what the cop who pulled him over was thinking...:D

I aim to please. :p

And apart from the humor angle, that line really speaks to the comfort and mobility of the suit. You'd think wearing bulletproof body armor for an hour-long drive would get pretty uncomfortable pretty quickly, but it didn't.

Plus, it has magnetic holsters! *coolness*

I won't be impressed until it does the macarena. Without someone inside.

A four-hour drive.

:eek:

Noted...

It looks cool. If he were to combine it with that japanese PAL (Power Assist Limb) lightweight/compact robot suit(the one that picks up your nerve messages from your brain to your limb before you even move your arm). It'd be awesome.

That being said, there are definitely some missions these would be useless/cumbersome in.

I cant see it being of much use in comparison to nano technology armour suits, the nano particles are programmed to coalesce to form a hard shell depending on the force of impact to the suit, so its uber light weight/non bulky and uber protective

In a way, that is extremely cool.

But in a whole other, it is totally rediculous.

Other: It should be mass produced, sold to the public, and generate a dedicated community of modders who add things like chainsaw arms and rocket launchers on the shoulders. These people should be unrestricted, and have lethal tournaments once a week televised.

I cant see it being of much use in comparison to nano technology armour suits, the nano particles are programmed to coalesce to form a hard shell depending on the force of impact to the suit, so its uber light weight/non bulky and uber protective

Considering this actually exists it's got some considerable advangates.

Other: It should be mass produced, sold to the public, and generate a dedicated community of modders who add things like chainsaw arms and rocket launchers on the shoulders. These people should be unrestricted, and have lethal tournaments once a week televised.

Oh.
My.
God.


You win this and 9 other threads.

Considering this actually exists it's got some considerable advangates.

That's a very good point. And the nanoparticles wouldn't get a dedicated community of modders.

Other: It should be mass produced, sold to the public, and generate a dedicated community of modders who add things like chainsaw arms and rocket launchers on the shoulders. These people should be unrestricted, and have lethal tournaments once a week televised.

Quite literally Unreal tornament 2007. :gundge: :D

Considering this actually exists it's got some considerable advangates.

Oh.
My.
God.


You win this and 9 other threads.

Thank you, thank you very much. I'll try to post some concept art.

This particular suit probably wouldn't be too effective, but this is definitely where I see the future. The biggest problem with modern infantry is that it can be killed by cheap bullets and cheap shrapnel. If you make an armored suit, either heavy armor with power-assist or some new super-strong lightweight material, that can protect infantry from most bullets and shrapnel, infantry will be extremely effective. It's pretty tough to hit a single person with an RPG. Eliminating the threat posed by the cheapest weapons would make it much more difficult for third-world nations or insurgent groups to combat modern militaries.

Concept art!

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/samforgy/armorsuit.jpg

Concept art!

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b21/samforgy/armorsuit.jpg
I like the "Frickin' chainsaw leg!" :)

I like the "Frickin' chainsaw leg!" :)

I like the combination chainsaw/tennis racket.

I like the combination chainsaw/tennis racket.
I wondered about that. If the iPod is on the right arm, and the left hand is a chainsaw/tennis racket...how do you use the iPod?

I wondered about that. If the iPod is on the right arm, and the left hand is a chainsaw/tennis racket...how do you use the iPod?
Sheer power of will.

I wondered about that. If the iPod is on the right arm, and the left hand is a chainsaw/tennis racket...how do you use the iPod?

by using your tounge? Or other apenage?:D

I wondered about that. If the iPod is on the right arm, and the left hand is a chainsaw/tennis racket...how do you use the iPod?

With...YOUR MIND!

No, seriously. You just send a message to it from the minifridge.

Two things.

How's peripheral vision? Can't be any wider than visored motorcycle helmets.

And.

He looks like some kind of new age stormtrooper. Which is the idea I guess.

With...YOUR MIND!

No, seriously. You just send a message to it from the minifridge.

Ah, yes, the minifridge. How do you get stuff into/out of there? The racket won't fit in there, and nor will the big hand...

Or (:eek:) is the drawing not to scale?

Two things.

How's peripheral vision? Can't be any wider than visored motorcycle helmets.

And.

He looks like some kind of new age stormtrooper. Which is the idea I guess.
Reminds me of Master Chief.

Ah, yes, the minifridge. How do you get stuff into/out of there? The racket won't fit in there, and nor will the big hand...

Or (:eek:) is the drawing not to scale?

You use the rolls-royce. You get a valet parker to use it and stock the fridge at the same time for a tip.

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/media_archive/jan-11-2007_a.html

Here's a video

Reminds me of Master Chief.

Now imagine seeing a squad of people equipped with this. Complete with a voice mutator to make your voice sound all deep and scary when you talk. OH! And let's have speakers to make "The Imperial March" play on a loop.

Oh yes, the options are endless...

Well, the guy did this in his backyard, and only took $15.000 dolars to do it. Looks pretty good to me.

If he could sell the concept to someone else, they could improve it. Anyway, the guy probabily doesnt even have the ressources to use military technology on this armor.

hope he plans a good suit for the army

hope he plans a good suit for the army

I thought that was intendid for the army?

I thought that was indented for the army?

that just make's a good target

You know where I would expect to see this used, in the army?

Truck drivers.

Sure, not every feature would be fully utilized. But really, truck drivers get ambushed all the damn time in Iraq. If they're wearing this suit, they probably have much better chances of surviving an RPG or mine, though I won't speak percentages. Also, the ensuing gunfights could be much safer.

Really though. Don't throw armour plates on the humvee's, give the drivers and gunners armored suits.

Yeah, except you know all that body armor people were screaming that we needed in Iraq? Guess what happened? The same thing in Vietnam - it was too hot and you couldn't wear it half the time.

As for eliminating small-arms against soldiers wearing this armor - how hard do you think it would be to get a 20mm gun, if they can get crew-served MGs and other military hardware to begin with? It's no good. More importantly, if you can take out vehicles with IEDs, you can take out an armored soldier. The only thing armor suit's gonna do is make them an easier target.

18kg is pretty heavy. You'd be very slow & immobile wearing it. I think it would have to be powered to be at all practical.

A soldier can carry approximately 25-30 percent of his own body weight and still maintain most of his mobility. However, soldiers are already weighted down with too much equipment, most of which is 'combat essential.' I agree that adding an additional 18 kg to that weight would be the death of a soldier.

I know this is a bit late, but I found some video footage (http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/media_archive/jan-11-2007_a.html) of the inventor wearing and demonstrating the armor. From the looks of the footage, it looks pretty mobile, not to mention badass.

Yeah, except you know all that body armor people were screaming that we needed in Iraq? Guess what happened? The same thing in Vietnam - it was too hot and you couldn't wear it half the time.

As for eliminating small-arms against soldiers wearing this armor - how hard do you think it would be to get a 20mm gun, if they can get crew-served MGs and other military hardware to begin with? It's no good. More importantly, if you can take out vehicles with IEDs, you can take out an armored soldier. The only thing armor suit's gonna do is make them an easier target.

Ahh, the classic fallicy. 100% protection = no protection, or increased risk.

Do most iraqi's carry 20mm guns that are highly portable? Would these armoured soldiers travel in highly predictable patterns, like trucks, and other vehicles regularly do?

Is this armour for everyone? Obviously not. Soldiers needing high mobility, doing sweeps, etc, no. But what about truck drivers, etc who's primary combat will be protecting themselves from an ambush? Its increased survivability. Twenty guys with AK-47's and RPK's becomes two guys on a heavy machine gun, risk wise.

What about people guarding checkpoints? Perhaps the shrapnel from that car-bomb doesn't kill the two people twenty feet away, because of the armour. Is that not worth it?

Again, armour wouldn't be for everyone, but it could certainly help some people. 2,000 dollars is a damn good investment for protection, if it can help save someone worth tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Fine, you give it to truck drivers. Then the truck runs over a mine, or gets hit by an RPG, or has a 20mm cannon tear through it (since its a common weapon used against light targets) - the end result is the same. So, in fact, if your argument is that 20mm cannons won't be a problem (this is all, of course, assuming that it actually will stand up to combat) because they aren't portable, saying that we should use them for truck drivers and such negates this. End result is the same - why do you think knights stopped wearing suits of armor and went to light armor? Because you can't stop it, and its better to be able to move than to attempt to protect from everything.

Although these could be helpful, there's a psychological problem. With protection this powerful, some soldiers will take foolhardy risks which will get them killed even with the armor.

And the primary 3 weapons wielded by terriosts: Assault Rifles, RPGs, and IEDs. This will only truly protect against one of them.

Does it have a trap door for when that bearsuit man needs to take a shit in the woods?

Even Homer Simpson thought of that when he was designing his bear suit.

Chellis, what is "600 jack in box taco", exactly?

Fine, you give it to truck drivers. Then the truck runs over a mine, or gets hit by an RPG, or has a 20mm cannon tear through it (since its a common weapon used against light targets) - the end result is the same. So, in fact, if your argument is that 20mm cannons won't be a problem (this is all, of course, assuming that it actually will stand up to combat) because they aren't portable, saying that we should use them for truck drivers and such negates this. End result is the same - why do you think knights stopped wearing suits of armor and went to light armor? Because you can't stop it, and its better to be able to move than to attempt to protect from everything.

Because musket fire was penetrating.

Guess what? Most people aren't carrying 20mm cannons! Since it doesn't protect them from those, though, you think we should make them vulnerable to ak-47's, probably the most common gun used against us in iraq?

An RPG probably wouldn't kill the truck driver, unless he was either hit directly, or there was enough gas in the truck to completely vaporize him with the ensuing explosion. Most likely, the truck would be disabled, as they're firing at moving vehicles, with most not having extensive training. IED's? What do you think is the most deadly thing about an explosive? Shrapnel. Thats why grenades aren't just explosive anymore, like stielhandgranate's back when. They're made to fling shrapnel all over the place. Claymores? Thousands of BB's, not really a bomb. My point is, this armour could save people from many threats. Not all.

You completely discount the armour because some weapons can defeat it. RPG's? Compared to other weapons aquirable in iraq, expensive and hard to use. IED's? Sure, but shrapnel is the bigger concern. Vehicles can still get hit, and the driver could still get killed, but its extra protection. 20mm's, etc? Again. You reduce the risk from 20 guys with AK-47's and RPK's that can all kill you, on the cheap, against two guys on a 20mm that's harder to set up, conceal, and more expensive to fire, not to mention easier to take out, because its not that mobile either.

Again, what about my car bombing example? There are people who could benefit. You're arguing that because some things can defeat it, its useless, or not worth it. If this armour defeats the majority of ways a soldier can get killed, it seems plenty worth it to me for 2,000 dollars.

Chellis, what is "600 jack in box taco", exactly?

Its six hundred jack in the box taco's. As in, six hundred taco's. From jack in the box.

Chellis, what is "600 jack in box taco", exactly?

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/e/ea/165px-JackInTheBox.png

Jack-in-the-Box tacos?

18kg is pretty heavy. You'd be very slow & immobile wearing it. I think it would have to be powered to be at all practical.

Well, the question here is: How much of that is body armor/combat gear/equipment built into this design? If the answer is a bit, this may not be a problem.

Also, situation must be taken into account. Would this be feasible for every last soldier? Maybe not. But there are several cases, as pointed out, where this could be very useful.

Also, from the video before, it appears the suit is quite mobile and not very cumbersome. I wouldn't doubt that after some fine tuning this could be rather useful.

Also, as for overheating, the helmet has a cooling system in it, and I don't think it would be terribly difficult or expensive to install a full body cooling system.

I think the troops doing house-2-house searches could well benefit from this armour. It could save them from any boobytraps left behind.
If a guy in his garage can make this which will cost $2k and weigh 18kgs, then surely the Pentagon could spend a small % of their massive budget to look at ways of making it cheaper, lighter and even more effective.
Oh, and to come up with a name that doesn't immediately make one think of a condom.
And a better place to put the clock.

Although these could be helpful, there's a psychological problem. With protection this powerful, some soldiers will take foolhardy risks which will get them killed even with the armor.

Wait... what? I have no idea where you get this from. Trust me, having better armor doesn't make you take risks you wouldn't take anyway. When I was in Iraq having the Interceptor armor didn't make me want to go do dumb shit that would get me shot. Even if it will take a bullet I did absolutely everything possible to avoid testing it.

And the primary 3 weapons wielded by terriosts: Assault Rifles, RPGs, and IEDs. This will only truly protect against one of them.

That's one better than none.

As for this thing it looks pretty damned crazy. I'd try it out at NTC but I'm highly skeptical. Frankly, the pepper spray and clock seems a bit much, but whatever. I'd be worried about the heat even with the little helmet fan thing, which would break at the first opportunity. I'd also be worried about the weight, unless your LBE stuff were integrated into it somehow. Also, firing a rifle with all that crap on would be a challenge at least. To keep a good sight picture on the M16 I was taught to press my nose up to the charging handle (there's almost no recoil to the M16). You'd have to figure something out for that. Also, I imagine that the motorcycle helmet he was wearing would make it a bit harder to hear, and any combat arms soldier will tell you that at night your hearing at least as important as sight.

So as I said, I'm quite skeptical. I'd have to see how it performs in ballistics tests and how troops at NTC or CMTC (NTC more so, due to the heat) liked it after a few rotations.

18kg is pretty heavy. You'd be very slow & immobile wearing it. I think it would have to be powered to be at all practical.

That's not much more than what they're wearing right now. According to the Wikipedia:

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interceptor_body_armor)The armor vest of the average US troop in Iraq weighs over 35 pounds (16 kg); sometimes, the vest with all their gear attached can weigh upwards of 45 pounds (20 kg).

That's a bit heavier than the stuff we wore when I was there, but they didn't have the ESAPI plates or the side SAPI plates when I was over there.

18Kg spread over the whole body isn't bad at all. And if it protects you from small arms fire, you suddenly eliminate one huge degrader of infantry efficiency -area fire. If small arms fire cannot suppress your troops, but can suppress the enemy, you've just won the firefight.

18Kg spread over the whole body isn't bad at all. And if it protects you from small arms fire, you suddenly eliminate one huge degrader of infantry efficiency -area fire. If small arms fire cannot suppress your troops, but can suppress the enemy, you've just won the firefight.

Well, I'm sure it's not going to be complete protection against small arms fire. It probably prevents the bullet from penetrating, but like the IBA it can't dissipate all of the force of the bullet and you could still end up with broken bones or very severe bruising. It's quite preferable to having the bullet puncture your lung, but I'm sure small arms fire would still be quite capable of suppressing troops in armor such as what this is made out to be.

Well, armor can't protect someone from *everything.* Hence, it's best not to have armor. Same with tanks. Tanks have all this armor but can be defeated by penetrating shells or rockets, and mines. So, they should be made of tinfoil.

That about look like the argument some folks are making?

Anyway, I like it. It looks cool. From my perspective that's all that really matters. :p

Dangling between the legs, that would be a clock.

That made me laugh. For four minutes. Solid.

:D:D:D

I love this man...his handlebar is the best part...every soldier should be required to grow one...

a) this guys armor doesn't protect several very vulnerable points: groin, armpits, and neck. If he hits an IED he'll still get his head torn off at the neck. A majority of IED wounds we're getting now are head, legs and arms. It might help a bit, but the areas that need protection are still exposed. I give him a D plus there.

b) a dude getting hit wearing this crap is going to die of blood loss before the medics can get the gear off of him. at present they use medical scissors and simply cut the guys BDU's off. Can you imagine trying to get this crap off a guy with multiple wounds from an IED? I give him an F for this area.

c) anyone who has ever worn body armor or a combat vest will tell you it's the overheating that gets you--torso heat has put me down several times while i was stuck wearing an early version of what our troops wear now. This thing will kill troops wearing it in desert conditions before the enemy ever gets to him. Nice idea about the head cooling fan, but it's going to break down as soon as it gets some of that fine assed talcum powder Iraq calls sand sucked into its motors. F there as well.

d) its way WAY too heavy for anything but a guy sitting down at the wheel of a vehicle, or very short assault runs. Maybe it could be used by bomb disposal squads, with a LOT of focus on better joint protection. It might also be a good thing in urban combat, for clearing rooms in close proximity where it could actually help in hand to hand and close range forefights. I'll still take my plexi sheild tho. I'll letr him have a C plus for some functions, but an F for general wear.

e) I wouldn't wear that goddamned helmet if every four star in the army ordered me to. It's cumbersome, has bad vision, and obviously terrible hearing like any motorcycle helmet has. It also has terrible neck protection for all the weight and bulk. It needs some sort of apron sort of fing around the neck, will will add to bulk, heat, and weight. I give the helmet alone a tripple-F- minus.

f) that silly assed laser pointer. There is a murphies law which states that if you can see the enemy to shoot at him, he can also see you to shoot at you. In this case you're going to take a very bright light, mount it dead center of a guys forhead, and then ask him to shine it at a bad guy. Said bad guy will then see the laser pointer, follow the light back to its point of origin, and put a very large hole in the wearers face and head. I give that light alone a quintuple-f-minus, and a boot upside the head in the bargain.

g) the cock clock. That's the ONLY thing on this suit I actually like. I think every GI ought to be issued a big honking clock to mount right over their pecker, so when they run it will bounce up and down and hit them in the balls. This will piss them off, therefore making even 71L's into fucking Hulk Hogans. I give this idea an A+ triple axle with 72 virgins waiting in the van out back for originality, function, and sheer humor. And I vote we make Wallonochia wear the first one issued, so we can take pictures and post them here for everyone's enjoyment:p


PS
i forgot to mention his anti bear super pepper spray. Can you imagine that shit accidently going off in the cab of a truck? Can you begin to understand why 3 % is illegal? If taht crap sprays back at the sprayer (wind was a big problem with mustard gas in WWI) it's going to freaking kill him before he can even get that stupid un filtered helmet off. Although it might be a good idea for bug spray. well, maybe not. It's actually just a stupid idea who's time has come and gone.
STAR WARS for his basic idea. Now THERE is some hard thinking...

Wallonochia wear the first one issued, so we can take pictures and post them here for everyone's enjoyment:p

I guess I need to start working on my handlebar mustache!

Actually, I've been out for a couple years, so you'll have to get some other joker to try it out. I'll read all about it in the Army Times :p

torso heat has put me down several times while i was stuck wearing an early version of what our troops wear now.

I remember one time when we were doing TCPs in the middle of a beautiful August day in Ramadi. I was wearing an IBA and by the time we were done I was soaked in sweat down to my knees. Damn, I hated that place.

edit: Also, as I sober up (I ran out of beer!) my opinion of this contraption is getting much worse.

I think the troops doing house-2-house searches could well benefit from this armour. It could save them from any boobytraps left behind.
If a guy in his garage can make this which will cost $2k and weigh 18kgs, then surely the Pentagon could spend a small % of their massive budget to look at ways of making it cheaper, lighter and even more effective.
Oh, and to come up with a name that doesn't immediately make one think of a condom.
And a better place to put the clock.

Indeed. It wouldn't be to difficult to take this current tech, refine it, equip it for urban combat, and there we go. Hell, this could even be used for Riot Control here in the states. No need for a riot shield, you are the riot shield. Complete with mace gun.


And the clock is just fine. It's a great defense as the enemies will be laughing at the pun.

The hip doesn't look too well protected, shoot him there.

f) that silly assed laser pointer. There is a murphies law which states that if you can see the enemy to shoot at him, he can also see you to shoot at you. In this case you're going to take a very bright light, mount it dead center of a guys forhead, and then ask him to shine it at a bad guy. Said bad guy will then see the laser pointer, follow the light back to its point of origin, and put a very large hole in the wearers face and head. I give that light alone a quintuple-f-minus, and a boot upside the head in the bargain.


Dude, it's a LASER POINTER. You can't see the beam unless it goes through something to diffuse it. The only visible bits are the dot where it hits and the dot where it starts, and I can tell you from experience it's hard as hell to see the second dot if you don't already know where it is.

Has anyone read Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlien? Looks like we're getting there.

If a guy in his garage can make this which will cost $2k and weigh 18kgs, then surely the Pentagon could spend a small % of their massive budget to look at ways of making it cheaper, lighter and even more effective.
Lighter? It's possible. Cheaper? Have you ever even met anyone who has ever had a government contract?

Also, I imagine that the motorcycle helmet he was wearing would make it a bit harder to hear, and any combat arms soldier will tell you that at night your hearing at least as important as sight.
That is so easily remedied it isn't worth mentioning.

Dude, it's a LASER POINTER. You can't see the beam unless it goes through something to diffuse it. The only visible bits are the dot where it hits and the dot where it starts, and I can tell you from experience it's hard as hell to see the second dot if you don't already know where it is.

If you have an infrared device (they use camcorders with night vision over there) it's quite visible.

The hip doesn't look too well protected, shoot him there.

It's more than a little difficult to call a shot on something as specific as the unarmored part of a hip, especially when the target is trying not to get shot.

That is so easily remedied it isn't worth mentioning.

How exactly would you satisfactorily do that?

If you have an infrared device (they use camcorders with night vision over there) it's quite visible.

Er...


I express doubts on whether or not terriosts use camcorders with night vision.

Er...


I express doubts on whether or not terriosts use camcorders with night vision.

I can tell you for a fact that they do, since when I was in Iraq during OIF1 they did. It's the cheapest most accessible form of infrared out there.

Dude, it's a LASER POINTER. You can't see the beam unless it goes through something to diffuse it. The only visible bits are the dot where it hits and the dot where it starts, and I can tell you from experience it's hard as hell to see the second dot if you don't already know where it is.


Dude, it's A LIGHT BEAM. Dust, smoke, polen in the air, a paricularly nasty fart, and your target will see it. That's not to mention IR as Wally mentioned. Which the locals have access to, despite Zarakon's disbelief. You're welcome to mount one to YOUR head in a gunfight. Me, I'll do without the "here I am" inidicator.

That is so easily remedied it isn't worth mentioning.

Not without losing the ballistic protection. When the fritz came out, losing our hearing to it's ear protection was one fo our biggest worries. It didn't affect things to badly, but a freaking full head helmet gives you two options basically: removing protection from the ear area, whcih is a bad idea, or using mechanical means to imporve the wearer's hearing (a sound pickup) which will be very prone to damage AND irritating when it's not needed. Truck drivers will LOVE taht idea, with a deasil engine roaring in their ear all the time. The damn things are loud enough without worrying about a sound piclup screaming it in your ear, and any audio tech will tell you we have never really made as good a mechanical mike as the unaided human ear.

Nope, I won't wear the helmet.

Not without losing the ballistic protection. When the fritz came out, losing our hearing to it's ear protection was one fo our biggest worries. It didn't affect things to badly, but a freaking full head helmet gives you two options basically: removing protection from the ear area, whcih is a bad idea, or using mechanical means to imporve the wearer's hearing (a sound pickup) which will be very prone to damage AND irritating when it's not needed. Truck drivers will LOVE taht idea, with a deasil engine roaring in their ear all the time. The damn things are loud enough without worrying about a sound piclup screaming it in your ear, and any audio tech will tell you we have never really made as good a mechanical mike as the unaided human ear.

Nope, I won't wear the helmet.
Use similar tech to that used in hearing aides and those spy hearing devices. Sound can be digitally recorded and reproduced inside the helmet, in full surround sound, so you can't say that. There is no reason for anything directly in the ear itself, speakers are good enough and if the mic was embedded in the helmet it would only be as prone to destruction as anything else. Firmware in the system can easily adjust the volume on the fly.

You have no idea what you are talking about, sorry. The ability to hear properly is made up of much more than a mechanical reproduction of noise. The human ear does a number of things as a human sensory organ that a mechanical device screws up or filters so the ear can't do its job.
That's why we haven't already gone to a fuller helmet already for the Army. Pilots and tankers, who can't hear anything anyway, wear full helmets with speakers embedded in them, and they also help drown out the background noise of their turbines. A grunt however, would be severely impared by anything but an open, unprotected earway.

Where can I buy one?

Only 15,000$ and one person to make it. Thats pretty cheap!

Only 15,000$ and one person to make it. Thats pretty cheap!

And mass production should bring the price down to around $2000.

And mass production should bring the price down to around $2000.

$2600, including the purchase and installation of a frickin' chainsaw leg.

You have no idea what you are talking about, sorry. The ability to hear properly is made up of much more than a mechanical reproduction of noise. The human ear does a number of things as a human sensory organ that a mechanical device screws up or filters so the ear can't do its job.

Why don't you point them out then.

Why don't you point them out then.

I already provided an example with my pilot or tanker description but here is a little more. I am not an ENT doctor but I have spent a lot of time in their offices so I really do know what I am talking about.

directional hearing, filtering out background noises to concentrate on particular other noises, allowing subconcious processing of the interpretation of noises, feeling the actual impact of noises (which is how deaf people "hear" music and can dance to it. THere are an easy dozen ways why a mechanical ear isn't as good as a real ear, all of which are vital to a soldier in a combat zone. When I was in Somolia I was partially deafened in my left ear and it really really affected me. I couldn't tell where noise was coming from, I couldn't tell how near a noise was to me, and I couldn't tell if that noise was of a high or low pitch (as in rifle shots) whcih left me unsure which direction the shhoter was shooting in and even whether it was an M16 or an AK47--they have a different rate of fire but my tonal range had been screwed up enough to actually screw with the way my brain was processing ALL of the sound I was recieving. Trust me, there is a lot more to hearing than just recieving noise.


I had an ear surgery in October (mastoidectomy and tympanectomy. While I was recovering I literally couldn't walk through a doorway without hitting the dorrframe. Your ears (more than your inner ear) literally help you place yourself in the universe. It's not uncommon for people who have recently had ear surguries to get into car wrecks due to this problem.

To add to what Rooseveldt said when I was in Iraq I could tell you the distance within about 200m of where a rifle was firing just by the sound. I have no confidence in the ability of a speaker to be able to help me do that.

He has this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Hurtubise#Angel_Light) in his Wikipedia article. I wouldn't be surprised if the suit doesn't work as well as he said it does. Which judging from the above comments isn't very well anyway.

He has this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Hurtubise#Angel_Light) in his Wikipedia article. I wouldn't be surprised if the suit doesn't work as well as he said it does. Which judging from the above comments isn't very well anyway.

Judging from his Wikipedia article he's a fucking loon. Read about how the design for the "Angel Light" came to him in a dream. Also, read what the "Angel Light" is supposed to do.

Another drawback of this would be the bulk. 18kgs ain't much - and I'm sure it could be reduced if the Pentagon poured a bit more money into it - but how comfortable would it feel after a few hours? 10, 20, 30?
Sometimes soldiers have to go days without proper sleep. Could you still run about and function wearing this after that long a time?
I doubt it.

I still think it could have it's uses for soldiers conducting house-to-house searches to protect them from boobytraps.

Judging from his Wikipedia article he's a fucking loon. Read about how the design for the "Angel Light" came to him in a dream. Also, read what the "Angel Light" is supposed to do.

I noticed. Also... he goes into the woods to get attacked by bears. He is most definitely insane.

Pretty impressive for a guy working out of his house- Maybe he'll get some attention and funding now-if he can refine it-make it stronger and lighter and market it for $2,000.00, I have a feeling it will do really well.

I can see id with different adaptations and custom packages to make it suiotable for military,police,SWAT, fire fighting, etc...

I hope he is succesful.

Here's the Army's version

http://www.army.mil/-images/2007/01/07/1718/

This one has powered legs and arms so you can run like you're not wearing all that weight.

Here's the Army's version

http://www.army.mil/-images/2007/01/07/1718/

This one has powered legs and arms so you can run like you're not wearing all that weight.
http://www.army.mil/-images/2007/01/07/1718/size1-army.mil-2007-01-08-093146.jpg
All he needs is a lance and a horse and he'll be set for jousting.

Think of how funny it will be when the batteries die at the wrong moment.

Then it will be as cumbersome as the armor worn by knights of old, when they fell off their horses.

Sure, you'll still be able to get up, and after a fashion, walk around. But not very quickly.

Think of how funny it will be when the batteries die at the wrong moment.

Then it will be as cumbersome as the armor worn by knights of old, when they fell off their horses.

Sure, you'll still be able to get up, and after a fashion, walk around. But not very quickly.

Popular myth. Armorers back then had about as much common sense as armorers now. Lack of mobility could kill you as easily as a crossbow bolt through the noggin. Weight was spread out throughout the whole body and it was kept sufficiently light enough that you could actually fight well even if not mounted.

Of course you also had to be fairly built up to do all that, but considering that armor like that meant melee combat usually, you were trained for it.

Popular myth. Armorers back then had about as much common sense as armorers now. Lack of mobility could kill you as easily as a crossbow bolt through the noggin. Weight was spread out throughout the whole body and it was kept sufficiently light enough that you could actually fight well even if not mounted.

Of course you also had to be fairly built up to do all that, but considering that armor like that meant melee combat usually, you were trained for it.

Melee combat yes. Running, no.

I don't think you're going to be able to sneak up on anyone if the power in your armor is out, either. Right now, with just the equipment and armor they're wearing, a squad can't sneak up on anyone - there's too much noise from all your gear.

18kg is pretty heavy. You'd be very slow & immobile wearing it. I think it would have to be powered to be at all practical.

Er, no. 18 kg is remarkably light when distributed across the body. Plate armor weighed around 20 kg for people smaller than this, and didn't hamper movement one bit.

Melee combat yes. Running, no.

I suspect that though the people of that time were considerably fit, at least those slated to wear plate mail, they weren't that much bigger or stronger than your average heavyweight body builder. Plate armor and weapon couldn't have weighed much more than the gear that your run of the mill US GI carries or we'd go back to turtling problems.

So if a fully laden GI could run, albeit not very fast or far, so could a knight of that time I suspect.