According to information contained in the press, working models of exoskeletons currently been established in the United States and Japan. Among other things exoskeletons can be integrated into the suit.
One of the main developments is the use of military exoskeletons. The purpose of this research is to develop a wrapper that would increased the speed, agility, physical strength, man, combining function and also protect the soldier (extra armor). The use of such mechanical skeletons in the future could substantially increase the performance of their fighters capabilities, transforming the soldier of the future into a kind of cyborg.
The continuous development of science and technology leads to the fact that the modern infantryman carries a lot of different weapons systems, reconnaissance and surveillance of the enemy, a variety of computing devices, which inform soldiers about the current combat situation - the location of the opponent, fellow soldiers, and even civilians. Moreover, the number of computer systems, weapons, other clothing, which may be needed to accomplish the fighter combat mission only grows with time. Unfortunately, ordinary infantryman just not able to bring the fight everything you need - because in addition to being worn by the weight of ammunition and armaments limited by the physical capabilities of soldiers, they still have to conduct active operations with this nagruzkok.
Realizing this, the United States in the early 2000s began a program to military mechanization and robotics, which included work on the creation and exoskeletons. The creation of these devices - the problem is not from the category of light, as is required to develop a device that will be indispensable in a number of situations and thus will not interfere with the soldier and fetter him in his movements. Ideal option exoskeleton future will have to replace the soldier feet and hands, as well as allow him to take up 95% of the total weight of the cargo carried by the man. In addition to the above items are perfect ekzoskilet must literally merge with the human body, fulfilling all the wishes and commands people carrier, and in the future and anticipating them in advance.
At present, the most serious obstacle to start creating full exoskeleton is a lack of suitable sources of energy to them, which would harness the power of exoskeletons for an extended period of time. The task force exoskeleton to work as long as possible today is the most important, because in real combat conditions in the backcountry - mountains, deserts, woods, recharge the device is simply nowhere.
Now DARPA - the U.S. defense science agency opens a new direction in the creation of exoskeletons. Currently, U.S. military engineers and are seeking to develop a cheaper and lightweight exoskeleton that would not attach fighters super-powers, but simply zeroes the weight of their normal gear and equipment. With this new project, which is going to implement DARPA, does not alter the existing programs to build exoskeletons, such as XOS 2 or HULS. It is assumed that the new exoskeleton can easily fit under the existing military equipment, thus he will be able to take the weight of the standard equipment of the American infantryman. On this basis, a new exoskeleton will not have to carry a soldier with a 100-kg load for 5 hours, it will be enough that he was able to take a payload weighing up to 45 kg.
The new project defense science agency is going to create an exoskeleton that can be easily placed under a form of military personnel. It is assumed that he will be able to increase strength, endurance, and protection from injury infantry reduce fatigue and fatigue, as well as provide prevention and treatment of chronic and acute diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
Apparently, DARPA engineers focused on the application of existing technologies of medical rehabilitation exoskeletons. For example, the company sells to hospitals Ekso Bionics robotic suits their own production, which are designed for rehabilitation of people suffering from paralysis. Such suits are powered by rechargeable energy, with one battery charge lasts for several hours of continuous operation. In this case, it would be logical to assume that the military version of the exoskeleton from DARPA will be able to work much longer - ideally, at least one day on a single charge of batteries. Of course, you will need to solve a problem on the power supply, but the reduction in load requirements on the exoskeleton is to simplify this task.
Already we can say with confidence that ekzosklety will eventually become a regular feature of outfitting special forces troops all the high-tech armies in the world. With the decrease in the number of most world armies becoming increasingly important issue of fighting characteristics of each individual soldier. Combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrated that the solution successfully combat missions largely depends on the physical fitness of soldiers. The soldiers, who are forced to operate in harsh environments, carrying a heavy outfit, quickly get tired, lose pace and make mistakes. In addition, the tactics of the small units involves the use of a compact (but not easy for soldiers) weapons and unmanned aerial vehicles. Thus, the exoskeleton - this is the only way to make a modern infantryman#39;s more mobile, as the physical capabilities of an ordinary human body does not meet all the requirements of the modern battlefield.
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