Non-Military Roles for Power Armors

[NecronLord]

Wouldn't the Tmsuk T-52 Enryu qualify more as a mech?

It has catterpillar tracks. It's a vehicle, not a mecha. Even if it does look a lot like a space marine dreadnought.

[dworkin]

What about this chap Mr ADS?

[Warsie]

Riot control also comes to mind. It would beat horse cops easily. It's unlikely that there is anything an average rioter could have that would faze anyone wearing a power suit and we don't have to worry about a rioted stampede. Well, we have to worry about a guy wearing a power suit panicking, but he can be taken to court for that. You can't do that with a horse. Well, you could, but it would not have much of a point (I haven't slept during the night, so sleep deprivation is making me funny).

The rioters could be having similar suits; currently in planned riots to fight the G8 and the like, often they prepare for fighting riot police by dressing in gas masks and armor and helmets to counter the riot police.

[Zixinus]

The rioters could be having similar suits; currently in planned riots to fight the G8 and the like, often they prepare for fighting riot police by dressing in gas masks and armor and helmets to counter the riot police.

If the rioters are coming in power suit, then its not just a riot but a fucking revolution.

Besides, I doubt a power suit would be that cheap.

[Kitsune]

The rioters could be having similar suits; currently in planned riots to fight the G8 and the like, often they prepare for fighting riot police by dressing in gas masks and armor and helmets to counter the riot police.

How often do you see Rioters in armored Humvees?

[phred]

The rioters could be having similar suits; currently in planned riots to fight the G8 and the like, often they prepare for fighting riot police by dressing in gas masks and armor and helmets to counter the riot police.

Riot police are for large groups of people where something might go wrong. When people are preparing to fight like that you call in the army. its beyond a police matter at that point.

[Vendetta]

You could have a combat medic, slinging a wounded soldier in each arm, bounding across the battlefield at 30 miles per hour over rough terrain, all without breaking a sweat.

Sounds pretty cool.

Probably cause more damage to a wounded soldier than leaving them there though.

[RedImperator]

I question the value of power armor for cargo-handling. While I can see some advantages over a forklift, the cost would necessarily be astronomical, more than offsetting those advantages.

[Lord of the Abyss]

I question the value of power armor for cargo-handling. While I can see some advantages over a forklift, the cost would necessarily be astronomical, more than offsetting those advantages.

I don't see why. Yes, it's a complicated piece of machinery, but so is a cargo handling robot, and those already exist.

[RedImperator]

I question the value of power armor for cargo-handling. While I can see some advantages over a forklift, the cost would necessarily be astronomical, more than offsetting those advantages.

I don't see why. Yes, it's a complicated piece of machinery, but so is a cargo handling robot, and those already exist.

First, you're going to have to show me some kind of link for me to believe commercial cargo-handling robots exist on the market; I can't find any myself. Second, you haven't addressed the main problem at all: the cost of a suit of power armor is necessarily going to be much higher than the cost of a forklift which is perfectly adequate for most jobs. Third, if cargo handling robots exist, I doubt they take the form of a giant armored humanoid; something wheeled or tracked with robot arms seems much more likely, because (as was hashed out ad nauseum in the mechs vs. tanks debate) any machine with legs is automatically more complicated (and therefore, more expensive) than a machine with wheels or tracks, for no advantage. Fourth, if you could build cargo-handling robots as cheap and reliable or more as forklifts, why would you bother putting a human operator in the loop in some goofy power armor?

[Winston Blake]

You could have a combat medic, slinging a wounded soldier in each arm, bounding across the battlefield at 30 miles per hour over rough terrain, all without breaking a sweat.

"Their necks were broken which I picked them up, honest."

While I say "Non-Military", how about stretching it to combat paramedics as well?

The guts and the like are rather delicate things, one where the dexterity handicap of a power suit may be bad.

You could have smaller sub-arms for delicate work, a la Ghost in the Shell.

[Mobius]

You could have smaller sub-arms for delicate work, a la Ghost in the Shell.

actually the sub arm are coming from older design of Shirow
most of them are straight landmate from Appleseed.

[Ender]

Space construction. Those parts will still have considerable inertia. The work requires self contained atmosphere. The armor nicely doubles as radiation shielding. Ground pressure concerns negated in free-fall.

[Swindle1984]

Space construction. Those parts will still have considerable inertia. The work requires self contained atmosphere. The armor nicely doubles as radiation shielding. Ground pressure concerns negated in free-fall.

So it's like the SCV from Starcraft then.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Space construction. Those parts will still have considerable inertia. The work requires self contained atmosphere. The armor nicely doubles as radiation shielding. Ground pressure concerns negated in free-fall.

I was also thinking that power armour would be great to in space drydocks and even on land since workers can carry heavier stuff without the need of a crane or something

[Ford Prefect]

You could have smaller sub-arms for delicate work, a la Ghost in the Shell.

Technically speaking, the smaller arms on GitS armed units or Appleseed landmates are only to operate the larger arms, not really to do delicate work. Some Landmates didn't even have exposed fingers on them.

You might as well get out if you want to do delicate stuff. Powered armour of that size is just not supposed to mess around with 'delicate'.

[RedImperator]

Space construction. Those parts will still have considerable inertia. The work requires self contained atmosphere. The armor nicely doubles as radiation shielding. Ground pressure concerns negated in free-fall.

I was also thinking that power armour would be great to in space drydocks and even on land since workers can carry heavier stuff without the need of a crane or something

Again, why would you use overcomplicated, expensive power armor to move cargo around when there's already forklifts, lift stackers, and powered and unpowered pallet jacks to do the same thing at a fraction of the cost?

As for space, they might have a role there, but depending on the state of your AI, robots might be a better way to go.

[Darth Wong]

Given the kinds of technology you need in order to build useful power armour (ultra-strong yet lightweight materials, ultra-dense power sources, incredibly superior user interfaces), why would you build power armour when you could build an unmanned remote-controlled machine instead? You're at arm's length from all sensory information when you're inside a power armour anyway.