Powered Exoskeleton

Discuss powered exoskeleton here, history, speculation, developments, tests, etc. Because they are AWESOME.

To quote Wikipedia, a powered exoskeleton, also known as powered armor, exoframe, or exosuit, is a mobile machine consisting primarily of an outer framework (akin to an insect's exoskeleton) worn by a person, and powered by a system of motors or hydraulics that delivers at least part of the energy for limb movement. Or, basically a crude version of Iron Armor armor.

This is one of those equipment that would be more suited in science fiction...that is becoming more and more real everyday, with great potential in various fields, including but not limited to military application.

And we are so much more likely to see it becoming real than Humongous Mecha.

A news:

Scientists at Harvard develops a soft, lightweight exoskeleton.

edited 27th Oct '14 7:22:15 AM by dRoy

A quick check doesn't indicate any such thread, so opening.

Yup, I checked before launching the thread. I wasn't too surprised to find one; it is a bit specific topic, after all.

I totally didn't feel the need for this thread after watching Edge of Tomorrow. Totally not.

Random thought.

Does anyone think we will have a sports centered around powered exoskeleton, especially a combat sport? Because implausibility aside, that does sound awesome. And dangerous. But mostly awesome.

edited 27th Oct '14 7:42:29 AM by dRoy

Nah, not for a while.

I doubt we'll see anything resembling big fancy hollywood exoskeletons for a loooong time. Hell most of them nowadays actually restrict your mobility pretty severely.

You know where we're gonna see these things in use? Logistics.

Warehouse workers moving things without a forklift and so on.

Whatever we want to do with powered exoskeleton, we will first need to mass produce it.

For packing stuff in warehouses, we shouldn't even need a better power source than the umbilical cables current prototypes have.

Of course, we already have something that's great at that. Forklifts.

as for the actual exos, more likely than not they'll carry a gas or propane generator rather than dragging a cord. it's a lot easier.

or if, for some ungodly reason, they do use them in warehouses they could probably get away with a bumper-car style power system, where there floor's electrified and the ceiling's the other half of the circuit.

edited 27th Oct '14 2:01:18 PM by joesolo

Or even the classic pallet truck, which, unlike a powered exoskeleton, can double as a quality kick scooter as well.

edited 27th Oct '14 2:01:39 PM by Achaemenid

True that. Handtrucks work fine too for smaller stuff.

and Wheel barrels are tons of fun with multiple people

edited 27th Oct '14 2:02:50 PM by joesolo

I know I posted this in another thread somewhere, but the Navy's worker exoskeleton for industrial work.

interesting.

it'll be something when it's cheaper to buy 5 of those instead of hiring another worker.

edited 27th Oct '14 7:32:10 PM by joesolo

It'll be far more interesting when it's cheaper to buy one of those than pay increased insurance premiums and workman's comp.