Raytheon's Military Exoskeleton: Working Inside the Robot

We've seen Exoskeletons in the movies -- Iron Man and Aliens come to mind. But now a unit of Raytheon is trying to bring the technology to life for use on the battlefield.

The exoskeleton is essentially a wearable robot that amplifies its wearer’s strength, endurance and agility.

Built from a combination of sensors, actuators and controllers, the futuristic suit enables a user to easily carry a man on his back or lift 200 pounds several hundred times without tiring.

Yet, the suit, which is being developed for the U.S. Army, is also agile enough to let its wearer kick a soccer ball, punch a speed bag, or climb stairs and ramps with ease.

Development of the exoskeleton has been underway since 2000, when [inventor] Jacobsen realized that if humans could work alongside robots, they should also be able to work inside robots.

Hat tip: Rusty Ware.