China’s military could soon possess an army of Tony Starks as the global superpower begins to roll out its next-generation powered exoskeleton suits for its soldiers to wear in combat, resembling something out of a Marvel movie more than fiction.
Chinese company Kestrel Defense has developed the robotic suits to boost mobility and endurance for soldiers operating drones and other advanced weapon systems.
Pictures surfaced on Chinese social media appear to show the country’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) already putting the technology to use, as troops bear exoskeletons with integrated support to aid with launching and controlling unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
A similar concept is already deployed in China for everyday jobs such as workers for home moving companies, to help avoid muscle strain when navigating flights of stairs.
Meanwhile, the US Army has long attempted to integrate similar exoskeleton suits with its combatants to share the load of heavy duty activities.
A modular backpack containing a power source, linked with data equipment, is the main component of the suits. The helmet features a mounted display system and augmented reality visor to facilitate real-time situational awareness and drone feed integration.
Drone operators, artillery units, and reconnaissance teams are likely to benefit from these latest systems, preparing for extended combat missions during which they’ll need to conserve energy.
The suit also features articulated arm and leg supports to keep its user stable when crouched or in a kneeling pose, similar to how drone pilots operate.
Palladyne AI Corp, formerly Sarcos Robotics, was awarded a US Navy and US Air Force contract earlier this year to develop its Guardian™ XO suit, a full-body autonomously powered robotic exoskeleton straight out of a sci-fi movie, for military use.
The company claims those wearing the older iterations of the technology have been able to comfortably lift 90kg without exertion, earning Palladyne contracts across the manufacturing, industrial, and military industries.
Although exact specs are unknown at this time, the robotic getup is likely to consist of a lightweight frame with powered joints to assist soldiers with carrying heavier loads out on the field.
Kestrel’s promotional material suggests the exoskeleton supports small quadcopters and reconnaissance drones to be deployed from the suit anywhere in a hypothetical battlefield when equipped by an operator.
