Thursday, October 10, 2013

If We Imagine It, We Can Build It

October 10, 2013 BBC News reports that the U.S. Army has decided to develop suits rather like those in Iron Man:
Other exoskeletons that allow soldiers to carry large loads much further have already been tested by the army.
The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (Talos) would have such a frame but would also have layers of smart materials fitted with sensors.
The suit would also need to have wide-area networking and a wearable computer similar to Google Glass, the US Army said....
"The requirement is a comprehensive family of systems in a combat armour suit where we bring together an exoskeleton with innovative armour, displays for power monitoring, health
monitoring, and integrating a weapon into that," said Lt Col Karl Borjes, a science adviser at the US Army's research, development and engineering command.
"It's advanced armour. It's communications, antennas. It's cognitive performance. It's sensors, miniature-type circuits. That's all going to fit in here, too," he added.
Ah, heck, if you are going to spend that kind of money, go all the way, and build something like the suits in Heinlein's Starship Troopers (the book, not the movies).

3 comments:

  1. Ah, heck, if you are going to spend that kind of money, go all the way, and build something like the suits in Heinlein's Starship Troopers

    Baby steps. Baby steps.

    Plus, I don't think we should go all the way and give every trooper a handful of micro-nukes to toss around like candy...

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  2. Jeff Schwarz called it "Land Warrior Armor"

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  3. It wasn't every trooper. Johnny Rico was issued nukes only twice before he made corporal.

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