View Full Version : Military Exoskeleton Applications?
x-factor
11-28-2007, 19:37
Saw this on CNN.com and thought it was interesting.
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2007/11/27/yeates.ut.robo.soldier.ksl
I can understand how this might be applicable to support troops and thereby allow for an increase in tooth-to-tail, but I'm not sure how applicable this would be to actual combat (other than maybe using one per squad as a mule or man-portable heavy weapons platform), which seems to me to be much more about dexterity than raw strength.
I'd be interested to hear what the experts think.
The Reaper
11-28-2007, 19:54
Two words.
Power supply?
And then resupply.
TR
Peregrino
11-28-2007, 20:00
Lets see - my SureFire flashlight gets 60 minutes out of two (expensive) 123 batteries. How many will it take to run this thing for the duration of a combat operation? Can anybody say "extension cord"? Great sci-fi but it always comes down to power supply.
Can't beat TR to the point, got to learn to type faster. :p
I'm not expert, just a fellow who has read a sci-fi book or two. I see where this is going and assuming a technological doubling every year and a half, I would expect something genuinely viable, ie: weapons platforms, autonomous units, in the next 15-20 years. Of course, I studied lit in college, not robotic engineering.
Ret10Echo
11-28-2007, 20:47
Two words, as always.
Power supply?
And then resupply.
TR
I actually read an article recently ( I have to see if I can find it in my office) about a company that has produced a sort of micro-power generation system. The concept is based on a self-winding watch. The device is integrated into material or pads/braces at the joints of the wearer. As you move it generates power to recharge comm systems of the wearer. I think it was aimed at the LE community and possible military apps. Not sure of the output or if it would come close to generating at sufficient levels to power something like this, but I thought it was a pretty good idea.
Guess I gotta dig though some piles tomorrow.
In another few years I could see EOD and Aviation Ordinance, maybe a few other jobs, use something similar. I don't see anyone using it until it is more compact.
I wonder how hard you would hit the ground if you jumped wearing one of these. Or how difficult it would be to egress a helo ditching in water.
As a grunt, all I see is something that will break, and one more thing to clean.
The antihero
11-29-2007, 07:51
You wanna see the real circus have a look at this guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqa08UGZGtk
As the others have said "Power".
The end of the flick had me thinking about the Marauder, Scout and Command Suits from Starship Trooper - the book not the piece of crap movie.
Ret10Echo
11-29-2007, 09:34
I actually read an article recently ( I have to see if I can find it in my office) about a company that has produced a sort of micro-power generation system. The concept is based on a self-winding watch. The device is integrated into material or pads/braces at the joints of the wearer. As you move it generates power to recharge comm systems of the wearer. I think it was aimed at the LE community and possible military apps. Not sure of the output or if it would come close to generating at sufficient levels to power something like this, but I thought it was a pretty good idea.
Guess I gotta dig though some piles tomorrow.
Found it.
frostfire
11-30-2007, 18:03
hmmm, finally Ripley's exo-suit in Aliens is no more scifi