Wearable robot exoskeletons

Filed in archive Technology on October 14, 2006

What comes to your mind when you think about ants? For example that they can carry 8 times their own weight. To transfer animal skills is an old dream of mankind. No wonder that the armed services are interested too:

the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), is funding a US$50 million project known as "Exoskeletons for Human Performance Augmentation".

The scope of the program includes the development of actively controlled exoskeletons that not only increase strength and speed, but enable larger weapons to be carried, provide a higher level of protection from enemy fire or chemical attack, allow wearers to stay active longer and carry more food, ammunition and field supplies. Exoskeletons may eventually even be programmed to bring injured soldiers back to base by themselves.

via gizmag: Wearable Robots