The design is also much more agile than the previous generation, giving the user abilities, such as walking, running, climbing stairs and kicking a football. Wearers are given the strength to lift 200lb objects for long periods of time and punch through three inches of wood. ![]() The XOS2 uses high-pressure hydraulics, allowing the user to lift masses at a ratio of 17:1. The following exoskeletons have not yet been chosen for the US Army exoskeletons OTA, but are the some of latest offering from the defence industry. “However, given the push for rapid transition and innovation, we can save the army a lot of time and money by identifying and vetting mature technologies, consistent with the vision of the Army Futures Command.” Other exoskeleton designs ![]() “Under ideal conditions, we would favour a full development effort,” said Audet. However, the Soldier Center is considering the Exo-boot because it is a mature piece of equipment that, if successful, could be integrated into army operations more quickly than a full-body suit in its conceptual stage. Ideally, the army is looking for exoskeletons with full-body capabilities. The FlexSEA system helps with motion control includes tools for data acquisition, and provides the networking infrastructure for multi-axis and multi-joint exoskeletons. The Exo-boot uses Flexible, Scalable Electronics Architecture, or FlexSEA technology, which aims to speed up and simplify the electronics behind wearable robotics designs. While Dephy’s design is under consideration for evaluation in the second half of 2019, some members of the US Army have tested the exoskeleton at the Soldier Center. It was designed not as a full-body concept but to provide localised support for the foot and ankle.ĭephy’s co-founders researched initial designs for the ankle exoskeleton at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in collaboration with the US Army. Dephy’s Exo-bootĪnother awardee for the US Army exoskeletons programme is US tech start-up Dephy, founded in 2016, which developed its Exo-boot product. Therefore, any relief that the exoskeleton can provide will very appealing to today’s warfighters. Currently, the advised weight of a US soldier’s backpack is 50lbs, while in practice, kits can weight up to 140lbs when including body armour, night vision goggles and radio systems. ![]() The Onyx system combines mechanical knee actuators with multiple sensors and artificial intelligence software to improve strength and endurance. “As we explore the more mature exoskeleton options available to us and engage users, the more we learn about where the possible value of these systems is to army operations,” said David Audet, chief of the mission equipment and systems branch in the soldier performance optimisation directorate at the Soldier Center. To this end, the Soldier Center has initiated a 48-month long Other Transaction Agreement (OTA) worth $6.9m in total, in order to develop enough exoskeleton systems to conduct a comprehensive operational evaluation. The US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC/Soldier Center) has set its sights on some high-tech designs to see how exoskeletons could be used for military purposes. Credit: Lockheed Martin.įrom physiotherapy to emergency services and now the military, exoskeletons can improve the current physical capabilities of a warfighter, allowing them to run faster, lift heavier objects and relieve strain on the body during physical operations. Through the US Army exoskeletons programme, defence officials are collaborating with commerical exoskeleton developers to help create ‘superhuman’ soldiers.
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