02 August 2006

Iron Man Beware! Exoskeletons, Future Soldiers and Liquid Armor

A news article from NY1 about a powered exoskeleton developed in Japan which allows the user to lift 10 times his original ability. Be sure to click on the link to the video.

On a similar note, check out the Wikipedia article on powered exoskeletons / armor, and an article from The Engineer on future soldier soldier programs across the globe, including the US Army's Integrate Future Force Warrior project.

Speaking of armor, from BusinessWeek, comes an article about liquid armor. Early next year Armor Holdings Inc. aims to start selling "liquid armor" -- garments constructed from layers of tough fibers and fluid polymers.

Abstracted: Today's body armor is composed of 20 to 30 layers of synthetic fibers and is bulky and can't stop high-velocity bullets, or all bomb fragments. Armor Holdings' product is a liquid that stiffens instantly into a shield when hit hard by an object and reverts to its liquid state just as fast when the energy from the projectile dissipates. Armor Holdings' new vests, in which the substance would be sandwiched between layers of ballistic fibers, would be lighter than current versions, which weigh four pounds or more. Liquid armor seems tailor-made for combat personnel or police, but it can also protect from stabbings, something even a top-of-the-line bulletproof vest can't do.

No comments: