The Suit
Well… this isn’t as sophisticated and classy looking like a suit, none the less, it does give you superhuman abilities.
This exoskeleton of aluminium and electronics increase the strength and endurance of the user by nearly twenty times. So now you can ski, skate, swim, go bungee jumping all in one day… if time permits.
The US defence developed it to build tomorrow’s soldiers, taking warfare to a whole new level. Though the current focus is on helping repair huge equipment and loading cargo, one day soldiers may be wearing this in combat. The army plans the to conduct initial field tests next year. Currently, Rex Jameson, who works for a robotics firm Sarcos Inc. that developed the dinosaurs for Jurassic Park, in Salt Lake City is helping the army assess the viability of the 150 pound suit. “Everyone gets bored much more quickly than I get tired,” Jameson said while speaking to Fownews.com.
Cost barriers and the battery life of the suit are the major challenges that the designers are facing right now. But until a solution is developed, the suit can draw power from a helicopter, a tank or any such source or maybe even a gas motor small enough to fit into the suit.
“He repeatedly struck a punching bag and, slowly but surely, he climbed stairs in the suit’s clunky aluminium boots, which made him look like a Frankenstein monster.” says foxnews.com about Rex. “It feels less agile than it is,” Jameson said. “Because of the way the control laws work, it’s ever so slightly slower than I am. And because we are so in tune with our bodies’ responses, this tiny delay initially made me tense.” Rex Said to Fownews.com. “Learning was easy. It takes no special training, beyond learning to relax and trust the robot,” he added.
Developers see the suit’s use in helping labourers who move heavy equipment and fire-fighters who need to carry equipment or injured up or down the stairs quickly. Disabled people could also be benefited immensely.