The SARCOS Exoskeleton is working already. Damn, I figured these things would only be getting off the ground by the time I finished my degree.
This thread is really just to present that video, but here's a relevant article:
Sarcos to produce US Army's exoskeletons in 2008
Link wrote:While Cyberdyne is off ramping up production for its own superhuman suit, it looks like Sarcos has been tasked with eventually producing an army's worth of exoskeletons here in the US. While armies across the globe have been scouting out robotic enhancements for front line GIs, the head honcho for DARPA's exoskelton program says that units enabling soldiers to "run faster, leap further and carry more will be delivered for Army testing in 2008." Sarcos bested 13 other firms seeking the presumably lucrative contract, primarily because its "system uses just one engine instead of many," and amps up the lucky (or not) individual strapped in by "driving hydraulic fluid via high pressure lines to servo valves on each joint." Of course, OSHA regulations won't allow these combustion engine-equipped suits to operate "inside of buildings," but bionic men / women shouldn't have any qualms busting out a bit of drywall to exploit that loophole anyway.
SARCOS' work is one of the ones I've been more interested in given the potential and what they've achieved so far. If they can get it to work with proper armour and have sufficient reliability in the field and endurance, then this is a winner. Yes, an RPG will fuck it up, but we have MBTs today that are so much scrap metal from a man portable ATGM. The exoskeletons won't be on every soldier and they were never meant to be invincible, but they certainly have their merits.
I'm hoping the micro-turbines, artificial muscle fibres and AI that are also being worked on can come into play. I have always liked the idea of the exoskeleton being able to take the role as an autonomous robot should you need to see to a wounded comrade and need cover fire etc.
Now, we just need flying ones or jump jets and we're all set.
I'm not sure if these will be combat ready any time soon, but the applications for jobs like supply movement and ammunition and armament loading seemed obvious to me. Maybe even a modification to turn these into advanced bombsuits, because current ones are heavy and restrict movement.
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Yeah, from the looks of things, power is the major issue with this design. Getting a power source that has sufficient energy density and is light enough and compact enough to not back the strength gain negligible is the biggest issue. That said, we're definitely a couple steps closer to:
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Looks really cool with lots of potential especially in things like construction and such.
But wasn't there a suit already with its one power from the Japaneses? It was white and I know it was talked about before on the board.
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Academia Nut wrote:Yeah, from the looks of things, power is the major issue with this design. Getting a power source that has sufficient energy density and is light enough and compact enough to not back the strength gain negligible is the biggest issue. That said, we're definitely a couple steps closer to:
"Get away from her you bitch!"
That just means we have to start looking into nuclear-powered battery packs.
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Admiral Valdemar wrote:SARCOS' work is one of the ones I've been more interested in given the potential and what they've achieved so far. If they can get it to work with proper armour and have sufficient reliability in the field and endurance, then this is a winner. Yes, an RPG will fuck it up, but we have MBTs today that are so much scrap metal from a man portable ATGM. The exoskeletons won't be on every soldier and they were never meant to be invincible, but they certainly have their merits.
I'm hoping the micro-turbines, artificial muscle fibres and AI that are also being worked on can come into play. I have always liked the idea of the exoskeleton being able to take the role as an autonomous robot should you need to see to a wounded comrade and need cover fire etc.
Now, we just need flying ones or jump jets and we're all set.
Are you suggesting an autonomous robot using the technologies for this, or the exoskeleton moving on its own accord?
This is probably one of the first steps towards powered armour.
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Academia Nut wrote:Yeah, from the looks of things, power is the major issue with this design. Getting a power source that has sufficient energy density and is light enough and compact enough to not back the strength gain negligible is the biggest issue. That said, we're definitely a couple steps closer to:
"Get away from her you bitch!"
That just means we have to start looking into nuclear-powered battery packs.
Then, of course, we'll have to get Aquilae painted on their chests, correct?
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The end of that thing said once production starts they could be up to about 20k dollars. Now if it's simply sold it doesn't matter who you are, as long as you have the money you can lift 10x times what you normally would.
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There's some questions I still have the thing doesn't answer:
*What's its top running speed?
*What is its 'punch' strength?
*How far can it jump?
It looks like it will be practical in construction and rear-area military long before it sees frontline use. Of course, as a sheer awe/intimidation tool, it is pretty damn impressive.
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Having seen the video, I'm really surprised at it's responsiveness. Most prototypes I've seen were rather lumbering. This I think deserves an eye being kept on it.
Fuck, if civilisation doesn't collapse, the technologies of the future are going to be really exciting.
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Let me know when the exosuits get to the point I can use motorcycles as hand to hand weapons. Or run at 45mph. And carry the power to do this for just over an hour. Then we have entered a point where industry would like the things.
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You won't be running at 45 mph anytime soon, not unless you hate your legs. You may jump to cover such distances, but not run.
The designs I have seen look to a power supply that lasts up to 12 hours continued operation using fuel-cells or micro-turbines that can utilise a range of fuels.
It shouldn't be hard to scale the power up to be able to use motorcycles as hand to hand weapons. The problem is keeping your balance. Either the suit has to get heavier, or you need counterweights to stay up. The bit at the end showing the exosuit lifting the 70 lb can, showed him appearing to strain a bit. It's not the guy straining, really. It's that he has to be like that to keep his balance.
The exosuit can't make someone faster, just stronger. The limbs can't move any faster than they could before. So they probably won't be able to jump any further; they can just do it now while loaded.
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CaptainChewbacca wrote:
It looks like it will be practical in construction and rear-area military long before it sees frontline use. Of course, as a sheer awe/intimidation tool, it is pretty damn impressive.
Does it really have to see front-line use, though?
Logistics count at least as much as the actual fighting. Cutting back the re-arming time of aircraft, loading of trucks and trains, etc. could translate into a very real advantage on the battlefield.
Personally, as a general, I'd rather have superhuman logistics than superhuman soldiers, and be able to launch my operations that much faster than the other guy.
CaptainChewbacca wrote:*What is its 'punch' strength?
I honestly can't picture them spending much time or money testing or trying to improve this one. The arms would need a set of totally different hydraulics to punch as well as they can lift, and if they can get it to lift and brace a .50 MG effectively while firing it on full-auto it becomes a moot point except to mecha fanboys.
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If it's all about carrying heavy things, wouldn't it be easier to invent something that looks more like an R2 unit, and carries supplies and ammo around?
PeZook wrote:Does it really have to see front-line use, though?
Logistics count at least as much as the actual fighting. Cutting back the re-arming time of aircraft, loading of trucks and trains, etc. could translate into a very real advantage on the battlefield.
Personally, as a general, I'd rather have superhuman logistics than superhuman soldiers, and be able to launch my operations that much faster than the other guy.
I wonder how well it would be able to function as a bipedal forklift. I could foresee a lot of guys getting injured if they misjudge centre of gravity and try to pick up a heavy pallet with it.
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RIPP_n_WIPE wrote:The end of that thing said once production starts they could be up to about 20k dollars. Now if it's simply sold it doesn't matter who you are, as long as you have the money you can lift 10x times what you normally would.
That figure sounds ridiculously low, especially for anything that might end up being used in the military. We're talking about the same organization which procured $15000 coffee makers.
"It's not evil for God to do it. Or for someone to do it at God's command."- Jonathan Boyd on baby-killing
"you guys are fascinated with the use of those "rules of logic" to the extent that you don't really want to discussus anything."- GC
"I do not believe Russian Roulette is a stupid act" - Embracer of Darkness
"Viagra commercials appear to save lives" - tharkûn on US health care.
RIPP_n_WIPE wrote:The end of that thing said once production starts they could be up to about 20k dollars. Now if it's simply sold it doesn't matter who you are, as long as you have the money you can lift 10x times what you normally would.
That figure sounds ridiculously low, especially for anything that might end up being used in the military. We're talking about the same organization which procured $15000 coffee makers.
Well the Japanese Cyberdyne one will be around $20k. This one, yeah, 5 times as much at least.
