Looks like Exoskeletons aren't too far off . . .

SolidSqual
SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
edited March 2009 in The Clubhouse
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http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/02/27/lockheed_exoskeleton/


Lockheed offers ready-to-go supersoldier exoskeleton
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Jetfuel powerpack, armour... shoulder turret?
By Lewis Page • Get more from this author

Posted in Science, 27th February 2009 12:18 GMT
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US weaponry globocorp Lockheed is pleased to announce the unveiling of its newly-acquired powered exoskeleton intended to confer superhuman strength and endurance upon US soldiers.

Needless to say, corporate promo vid of the Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC™) is available:



The exoskeleton is based on a design from Berkeley Bionics of California, but Lockheed say they have brought significant pimpage to the basic HULC. The enhanced version is now on show at the Association of the United States' Army Winter Symposium in Florida.

"With our enhancements to the HULC system, Soldiers will be able to carry loads up to 200 pounds with minimal effort," according to Lockheed's Rich Russell.

From the vid, the HULC certainly seems a step forward on Raytheon's rival XOS mechwarrior suit, which at last report still trails an inconvenient power cable to the nearest wall socket.

Not so the HULC; four pounds of lithium polymer batteries will run the exoskeleton for an hour walking at 3mph, according to Lockheed. Speed marching at up to 7mph reduces this somewhat; a battery-draining "burst" at 10mph is the maximum speed.

The user can hump 200lb with relative ease while marching in a HULC, however, well in excess of even the heaviest combat loads normally carried by modern infantry. There'd be scope to carry a few spare batteries. Even if the machine runs out of juice, Lockheed claims that its reinforcement and shock absorption still helps with load carrying rather than hindering.

There are various optional extras, too. The HULC can be fitted with armour plating, heating or cooling systems, sensors and "other custom attachments". We particularly liked that last one: our personal request would be a powered gun or missile mount of some kind above the shoulder, linked to a helmet or monocle laser sight.

One does note that remote-controlled gun mounts weighing as little as 55lb are available, able to handle various kinds of normally tripod- or bipod-mounted heavy weapons.

You'd need more power, but that's on offer. According to the Lockheed spec sheet (pdf) there's an extended-endurance HULC fitted with a "silent" generator running on JP8 jet fuel. A tankful will run this suit for three days, marching eight hours per day - though presumably at the cost of some payload.

Doubtless other power options could be developed: Lockheed says the HULC needs 250 watts on average.

It's important to note that the HULC is basically a legs and body system only: there's no enhancement to the user's arms, though an over-shoulder frame can be fitted allowing a wearer to hoist heavy objects such as artilery shells with the aid of a lifting strop.

The HULC may not be quite ready for prime time yet. But the military exoskeleton as a concept does seem to be getting to the stage of usefulness, at least in niche situations for specific jobs.

The BigDog petrol packmule, an alternative strategy for helping footsoldiers carry their increasingly heavy loads, may now have a serious rival. ®
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Comments

  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited March 2009
    Disclaimer 1: I'm agnostic
    Disclaimer 2: I am NOT a peacenik, BUT....

    I find it odd, that it appears we are playing in God's sandbox, for the sole purpose of Killing each other:confused:

    Just my 1st thought, and believe me, I'm quite surprised by it.

    Hopefully this technology will get more use in the rehab. world, then what it's designed for.:o

    Wow! I think I'm getting soft in the head
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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  • John30_30
    John30_30 Posts: 1,024
    edited March 2009
    That is hideous, but it's a fact that alot of technological advances come originally from a military application, i.e. how to destroy our fellow human more efficiently.

    We're a frikken weird species.
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  • fatchowmein
    fatchowmein Posts: 2,637
    edited March 2009
    John30_30 wrote: »
    That is hideous, but it's a fact that alot of technological advances come originally from a military application, i.e. how to destroy our fellow human more efficiently.

    I can see a smaller, lightweight version hidden under clothing to aid those with paralysis. THAT would be cool because it would not require much more power than to move the user's body weight + maybe an additional 50 lbs.
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  • John30_30
    John30_30 Posts: 1,024
    edited March 2009
    fatchowmein wrote: »
    I can see a smaller, lightweight version hidden under clothing to aid those with paralysis. THAT would be cool because it would not require much more power than to move the user's body weight + maybe an additional 50 lbs.

    I can see Stephen Hawkings in one beating the crap out of bad guys, all drooling and lecturing them while he smacks some virtue into them, just because he can.
    That would also be cool.

    Much better than that **** movie with Robert Downey.
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  • SBrown712
    SBrown712 Posts: 202
    edited March 2009
    Let's see, Lockheed selling to the military, what do you think, 2 million each? Might not be enough if a hammer is $16,000.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited March 2009
    Thems some kick **** hammers though.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited March 2009
    When we start playing in the part of the sandbox with genetically modified and manufactured soldiers, thats when you really should be worried.

    I think this a great idea. In a non military ap it could help disabled or old people continue a normal life and prevent them from being bed ridden.

    Maybe if they make an xlarge version all the obese people will start using these nstead of scooters.
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,624
    edited March 2009
    Except if you have a limb you can't control, this thing isn't gonna do you any good. It's not driving for you.......just giving you a structural reinforcement to the moves you make..........
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • rayslifecycle
    rayslifecycle Posts: 511
    edited March 2009
    thanks for posting Solidsqual
    http://rayslifecycle.blogspot.com/
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited March 2009
    Wow. I was 100% that wasn't real. But it's actually on their website.

    Now I want one!
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited March 2009
    I have a limb I can't control that the exoskeleton wouldn't help. Giggity giggity giggity...
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  • nadams
    nadams Posts: 5,877
    edited March 2009
    Giggity goo...
    Ludicrous gibs!
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 18,987
    edited March 2009
    brettw22 wrote: »
    Except if you have a limb you can't control, this thing isn't gonna do you any good. It's not driving for you.......just giving you a structural reinforcement to the moves you make..........
    That's the point.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • soiset
    soiset Posts: 724
    edited March 2009
    I like the guy doing the low crawl with that 200 lb load on his back. Methinks maybe he's got a pack full of bubble wrap.

    Also, you're not going to put 200 lbs on your back and stand upright without some weird heel extensions. 100 in front, 100 in back, and the rest of the squad thanking you for carrying their crap, more likely.
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  • Airplay355
    Airplay355 Posts: 4,298
    edited March 2009
    But you can carry that cool warhead right by your noogies...If you slip and fall, you will low yourself in half :D
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,624
    edited March 2009
    treitz3 wrote: »
    That's the point.
    re-read what i typed....i'm aware what it's for.....just addressing the disabled aspect if you're dealing with someone who has spinal damage and can't move their legs......this thing isn't gonna make them walk around upright.......
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited March 2009
    SBrown712 wrote: »
    Let's see, Lockheed selling to the military, what do you think, 2 million each? Might not be enough if a hammer is $16,000.

    C'mon, you can't convince me you are so naive as to not understand that the hammer was $10 and $15,990 when into an "off the books projects" fund.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited March 2009
    Ok, I need some kind of link to this supposed $16k hammer.
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
    In Use
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    Epson 8700UB
    In Storage
    [Home Audio]
    Rotel RCD-02, Yamaha KX-W900U, Sony ST-S500ES, Denon DP-7F
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  • brettw22
    brettw22 Posts: 7,624
    edited March 2009
    No you don't......just be ok with NOT having this one piece of information.....
    comment comment comment comment. bitchy.
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  • obieone
    obieone Posts: 5,077
    edited March 2009
    audiobliss wrote: »
    Ok, I need some kind of link to this supposed $16k hammer.


    Don't worry, it doesn't exist. IF the military 'over pays' for something, it's because MOST civilians hear a descrption, and think it relates to THEIR world.
    In reality, most people who buy things, they AREN'T buying items that are MIL-SPEC! And, the military, doesn't pay for more than they need.
    Not since the GSA got involved a long time ago.:rolleyes:
    I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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  • hockeyboy
    hockeyboy Posts: 1,428
    edited March 2009
    I think that thing would be sweet for long hikes. I have always wanted to hike the Appalachian trail, and all I need is a friggin HULC to bring along all my favorite things. A full keg of beer and a couple of hundred extra pounds of conveniences.
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited March 2009
    audiobliss wrote: »
    Ok, I need some kind of link to this supposed $16k hammer.


    It's in the same link with the $12k toilet seat and $10 ea. nails..:rolleyes:
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • average_guy
    average_guy Posts: 236
    edited March 2009
    obieone wrote: »
    Don't worry, it doesn't exist. IF the military 'over pays' for something, it's because MOST civilians hear a descrption, and think it relates to THEIR world.
    In reality, most people who buy things, they AREN'T buying items that are MIL-SPEC! And, the military, doesn't pay for more than they need.
    Not since the GSA got involved a long time ago.:rolleyes:

    This is the sarc smiley :rolleyes: that obieone used, in case anyone didn't know....
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