China has a new lighter and stronger military exoskeleton. Refinements in weight, ergonomics, and power supply could boost the second-generation exoskeleton’s coefficiency ratio. Norinco claims that the reduced weight increases battery performance.
Other companies in China are working on exoskeletons
* China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation’s has a powered exoskeleton for shipyard workers
* Chinese military engineers at EEAE have developed the L-70 exoskeleton
* Nanjing Military Region’s General Hospital built an exoskeleton that helped its wearer lift up to 80 pounds.
Exoskeletons shown by the USA appear to be more advanced.
US Special Forces are building the TALOS (tactical assault light operator suit) exoskeleton.
The suit has :
* physiological and biological sensors
* actuators that serve as the muscles to power the suit
* processors and computers,
* and a durable exoskeleton that offers support to the operator.
* the helmet has thin, transparent glass with ballistic protection and a heads-up display
It will provide protection against shrapnel and small arms fire, but could be targeted by an electromagnetic pulse weapon.
Special force exoskeletons have need to operate under for shorter times than Army exoskeletons would.
Powered knee joints could help armored exoskeleton wearers to climb 100 flights of stairs and then still engage in combat.
A commando might only need to breach a fortification and be involved in a short fight of an hour or less.
An Army soldier could need powered exoskeletons to operate for days between recharging.
Exoskeletons do not appear to be an area where any country would be able to maintain a sustainable advantage.
Batteries and robotics are areas where China is developing high volume and low-cost production.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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