'Iron Man' suit to be adopted by US military

October 14th, 2013, 22:05 Posted By: wraggster

The US Army is developing a suit similar to that seen in Iron Man in order to provide soldiers with ‘superhuman’ strength and protection.
The TALOS – Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit – was inspired by the death of an American soldier, who was killed entering a doorway while on a hostage rescue mission in Afghanistan.
Designed in collaboration with the University of Delaware, the suit will use a liquid-ceramic material that hardens when hit in order to provide protection from bullets.
"It transitions when you hit it hard," Norman Wagner, a professor of chemical engineering at the university, told National Public Radio.
"These particles organize themselves quickly, locally in a way that they can't flow anymore and they become like a solid."
The TALOS will also include an exoskeleton that the US Army said would provide ‘superhuman strength’ by utilising hydraulic arms and legs to boost speed and mobility.
One MIT professor, Gareth McKinley, compared the technology to the Power Loader suit wielded by Ripley (Sigourney Weaver) in Aliens.
To make sure the soldier encased in the suit can keep track of the battlefield, the TALOS will use a 360-degree night-vision computer, mounted in a corner of their display, to follow enemy locations and plot tactical manoeuvres accordingly.
Sensors will also be used to track the user’s health, including keeping stats on body temperature, heart rate and hydration levels.
Researchers working on the TALOS hope to have a working prototype within three years. For now, take a look at the video below to see how the suit might be used.

http://www.pcr-online.biz/news/read/...ilitary/032171

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