Here's a suit that will make soldiers feel like Iron Man. CNN reports that Sarcos Inc is working with the U.S. Army in developing a robotic exoskeleton that would give soldiers superhuman strength and endurance when worn. So far, the robotic aluminum suit is not the most practical, but the Army hopes to start testing this suit in the field next year, and perhaps have some soldiers wear them in combat zones in the future.
The suit itself weighs 150 pounds, and features sensors all over that detect the body's movements then transmits data about them to the suit's internal computer. According to the report, the computer sends instructions to hydraulic valves, which then mimic tendons by driving the suit's mechanical limbs, replicating and amplifying the wearer's movements instantly.
The only problem with the existing prototype is its battery life. When the suit was recently demoed, it was tethered to power cords because the suit's battery only lasts about 30 minutes. Price will also be a problem unless it is mass produced, but even then the cost will be "within the range of the price of a small car" according to Stephen Jacobsen, chief designer of the Sarcos suit.
Designers hope the suit will someday help soldiers unload heavy boxes, carry gear over rough terrain, or even help them repair tanks that break down in inconvenient locations, but the technology could also prove beneficial to disabled people, factory workers, and even fire fighters. You can see the suit in action in this video. Pretty cool stuff.
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