Robo-soldier
Futuristic kit gives troops ‘superhuman’ strength
SOLDIERS of the future could be fitted with an ‘Iron Man’ device that gives them superhero-style powers to carry heavier loads for longer on the battlefield.
The US Army is testing an exoskeleton which uses artificial intelligence to help troops run faster and carry extra gear such as weapons.
Named Fortis, it is a lightweight frame that fits around a soldier’s legs and is attached to a belt worn around the waist. The belt connects to flexible hip sensors, which tell a computer where the soldier is, as well as the speed and direction of their movements.
Developed by Lockheed Martin, Fortis also uses AI to analyse and replicate walking patterns so the soldier can move faster.
It is being tested at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia, although it is not yet known if it will be rolled out across the US military.
The new technology, which weighs less than 27lbs, enables soldiers to carry 180lbs up five flights of stairs using minimal amounts of energy.
A single machine arm attached to the main frame also lets a soldier effortlessly use tools weighing up to 36lbs.
Early testing found the exoskeleton increased productivity by anywhere from two to 27 times, depending on the task.
Engineers believe it will prove valuable in close-quarter combat, giving soldiers more mobility, speed and power.
It could also be used to help troops carry their wounded comrades and perform other tasks without suffering knee injuries. Fortis can also help stop a soldier falling over by giving extra support. It is powered by a 3lb rechargeable lithium ion battery. Keith Maxwell, senior programme manager of exoskeleton technology at Lockheed Martin, said: ‘By reducing the effort in walking and climbing, there’s less fatigue.
‘This technology can literally help our fighting men and women go the extra mile while carrying mission-essential equipment.’
He added: ‘We’ve had this on some of the Army’s elite forces, and they were able to run with high-agility carrying full loads. We were showing a decrease in the metabolic cost of transport, the measure of how much energy is required to climb uphill.’
During initial tests, engineers reported that Fortis reduced the amount of energy needed to perform a task by nine per cent.
And in an earlier test by the US Navy, experts measured the amount of time a worker could hold a 16lb weight overhead with- out having to rest his arms. The longest operators could work continuously without a break was three minutes. Using Fortis, operators could last more than 30 minutes.
Mr Maxwell said: ‘It knows what you are trying to do when you are trying to do it.
‘It locks and gives you a forward torque-twist that causes the lower leg to move toward the back, then it reverses direction to bring your leg forward.’
To put Fortis to the test, researchers from the University of Michigan recently tested soldiers’ fatigue when walking and climbing stairs, both with and without the exoskeleton.
In the study, four soldiers wore the exoskeleton and carried a 40lb (18 kg) backpack, while walking at various speeds on a treadmill inclined to 15 degrees.
Results showed that all four participants were less tired when wearing the exoskeleton.
The UK military is not currently testing the device.
‘Helps troops go the extra mile’