Originally posted by benevolent tyrant
The concept of an exoskeleton for military purposes is certainly not a new idea.

How could it be when various creatures have been using exoskeletons for survival and "warfare" for eons? We, the soft fleshed distant cousin, have finally managed to create the means by which we can bypass nature and endow ourselves with such characteristics and abilities.

Soon we will have Halo Master Chiefs walking around

Aliens 2? Try starship troopers, the novel, from the 50s.

The concept of powered exoskeletons is Ye Olde. Only recently have computers and energy storage technology gotten advanced enough for it to work, though.

I'd be interested in the power systems of these things.

Li-Ion batteries eh? That can propel it's own weight, the weight of the operator inside and a 200lb load for up to 100 hours?

Now that's a battery!

Where can i get a few?

spikey.

edit to add: Ahh..just saw the video, it's not the version i saw on youtube a month or two ago. This is a lot smaller than what i saw (the thing on youtube did look a bit like the loader from Alien II.
Nice neat design though. All the need to do now, is encase it in light armour to resist small arms, and voila, a battle suit.

[edit on 9-4-2009 by spikey]

Ion Lithium batteries have certainly enabled a new era of technology to open up..... I note the use of Ion Lithium batteries in the new lines of power tools that have been introduced over the past few years: i.e., power drills. Lighter weights, higher energy outputs, shorter recharging times and longer discharge rates means that we will probably be seeing considerable developments in the military uses of technology for the basic fighting infantryman.

I should note that from what was able to glean from the Lockheed Martin Product Card, the power for (almost) 100 hours of HULC system usage comes from not one but eight Ion Lithium batteries. I could not find more details on the size of the batteries or their weight. I'm only hoping that the exoskeleton isn't necessary to carry all the batteries needed to power itself!

it's funny to think how far technology has come, the first people that thought of the idea to make a suit that would protect the person inside would never dream for it to become reality, the suit will keep the soldiers protected.