NationStates Jolt Archive

US military develops exo-skeleton.
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44574000/jpg/_44574842_robo512.jpg
On the big screen, films like Robocop, Universal Soldier and forthcoming release Iron Man show man-machines with superhuman powers. But in Utah they are turning science fiction into reality.

We are at a research facility on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, ringed by beautiful snow-capped mountains. Once they held the Winter Olympics here; now they are testing endurance in other ways.

The aluminium limbs gleam in the brilliant sunshine, as the strange metal skeleton hangs from a safety harness at the outdoor testing site. It seems to be treading water; actually its programme is telling it to keep the hydraulic fluid in its joints moving.

Rex Jameson, a software engineer here at laboratories run by Sarcos, the robotics firm which designed the XOS exoskeleton, steps up and into the suit.

The lightweight aluminium exoskeleton, called XOS, senses Rex's every move and instantly moves with him; it is almost like a shadow or a second skin. It is designed for agility that can match a human's, but with strength and endurance that far outweigh our abilities.

With the exoskeleton on and fully powered up, Rex can easily pull down weight of more than 90 kilos, more than he weighs.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7351314.stm

Not long now before we see these?
http://starsmedia.ign.com/stars/image/article/831/831290/aliens-ripley-powerloader_1193711350.jpg
I hope so. uber-cool.

This is a duplicate thread.

Look at the existing thread entitled 'Robot Wars'.

Interesting topic though.

But mine's got pictures, so that makes it cooler surely.

Hmmm, Iron Man (movie) is coming out soon, isn't it?

With the exoskeleton on and fully powered up, Rex can easily pull down weight of more than 90 kilos, more than he weighs.

That doesn't seem particularly useful.

That doesn't seem particularly useful.

What are you talking about? Now the dreams of the coyote can finally be realized, we can finally hurl, or pull down massive boulders to crush our enemies when they go through mountain passes!

That doesn't seem particularly useful.

Demonstration involved a weight machine for comparison to normal human physical ability.

I want MJOLNIR Mark IV Armor dammit, not this imitation crap, lol...

Or at least the ExoSkeletons from the Matrix....

One day...lol...:mp5:

What are you talking about? Now the dreams of the coyote can finally be realized, we can finally hurl, or pull down massive boulders to crush our enemies when they go through mountain passes!
Because we all carry around mountain passes in our pants pockets. The new version of the Swiss Army Knife has a mountain pass function I believe.
Demonstration involved a weight machine for comparison to normal human physical ability.

I understand that. I wanted to see it do a pull up though. Or even more complex, pick a heavy weight off the ground, as this would involve more structural supports.

Because we all carry around mountain passes in our pants pockets. The new version of the Swiss Army Knife has a mountain pass function I believe.


I understand that. I wanted to see it do a pull up though. Or even more complex, pick a heavy weight off the ground, as this would involve more structural supports.

Im not sure how that would work with just the little clamps they have on the ends...

old news, but still way cool