Iron Man Is Another Step Closer To a Reality

arshadk writes with this excerpt from an article at CNN: "Inside a prosthetic shell of metal and hydraulics, Raytheon test engineer Rex Jameson is putting an XOS-2 exoskeleton through its paces. As the crowd watches, Jameson uses his robot hydraulic arm to shadowbox, break three inches of pine boards and toss around 72-pound ammunition cases like a bored contestant on the 'World's Strongest Man.' The suit moves as he moves and amplifies his strength 17-fold. ... Raytheon is seeking to develop the suits to help the US military carry supplies, and claims that one operator in an exoskeleton suit can do the work of two to three soldiers. If all goes as planned, the company hopes to see 'Iron Man' suits deployed in the field by 2015."

Comments

Re:Skynet

[VShael]

To me the amazing achievement in the Ironman movies that nobody seems to notice is the Jarvis AI he's got.

It's not AI. It's an English butler with a bondage fetish, that Tony has locked in high-tech closet in the basement.

Re:defense spending cuts should be happening

[couchslug]

"Spend it on vehicles (trucks, ships, aircraft, and forklifts) "

Drive any of those on a goat track then get back to me.

We are already a roadbound force tied to the massive wheeled vehicles whose height (driven by mine blast considerations), high ground pressure (big wheels are still wheels) and weight make them unable to go many places an exo could go.

Right now, humping things like a large mortar and lots of ammo up a mountain is difficult and exhausting. The necessity to carry organic firepower (UAVs and manned combat air patrols can't be everywhere) means infantry walk to work with what they can carry.