Slouching Towards Battlesuits.

Topic change. Robotic Legs Could Produce Super Troops:

BERKELEY, Calif. - Move over Bionic Man and make room for BLEEX — the Berkeley Lower Extremities Exoskeleton, with strap-on robotic legs designed to turn an ordinary human into a super strider.

Ultimately intended to help people like soldiers or firefighters carry heavy loads for long distances, these boots are made for marching.

"The design of this exoskeleton really benefits from human intellect and the strength of the machine," says Homayoon Kazerooni, who directs the Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory at the University of California-Berkeley.

The exoskeleton consists of a pair of mechanical metal leg braces that include a power unit and a backpack-like frame. The braces are attached to a modified pair of Army boots and are also connected, although less rigidly, to the user's legs.

Don't expect to see them in actual non-prototype use until at least the end of the decade (assuming that this particular project isn't vaporware), but slowly and surely we stride into the future, one buzzing and whirring step at a time.

Comments

[spc67]

Heinlein strike from the grave!

[James Casey]

Not sure how enthusiastic to be about military technological advances. Still, at least this one isn't designed to kill people.

[Independent George]

I'm not in the mood for a debate about military tech, so let me make this point - a modified civillian version could conceivably allow paraplegics to walk normally.

[Independent George]

Somewhat related point - check out this Economist article on DARPA's version of Robot Wars...

[James Casey]

I'm not in the mood for a debate about military tech, so let me make this point - a modified civillian version could conceivably allow paraplegics to walk normally.

That would be A Good Thing.

[Cameron]

You know, we really don't need new ways to haul heavier gear into the field. But if people are going to insist on doing it, then I think THEY need to test it. For a week. While going through the same level of sleep deprivation we would.

[Moe Lane]

But that would be logical, Cam. Can't have that.

Moe

PS: Yes, this is what's sucked me away from my usual haunts - although the last couple days have been me taking what should have been an unnoticed break... :)