Precursor to Powered Armor

[phavoc]

It still has a ways to go, but here's a link to an article on the first version of a powered exoskeleton allowing a infantryman to carry additional weight.

http://news.yahoo.com/u-militarys-iron-man-suit-prototype-debuts-month-152158957.html

 

[sideranautae]

It still has a ways to go, but here's a link to an article on the first version of a powered exoskeleton allowing a infantryman to carry additional weight.

http://news.yahoo.com/u-militarys-iron-man-suit-prototype-debuts-month-152158957.html

Neat stuff.

These types of suits have been worked on since the 70's. It always comes down to not having an adequate power supply. Doesn't yet exist.

 

[phavoc]

Researchers have created chargers that generate electricity based only on movement, but they are in the initial stages still and only generate power in the millivolts field. Most likely nowhere near enough to self-power the suit.

But in other areas science has made huge strides in more efficiently storing electricity in useful things like carbon nanotubes or graphene. So your body armor could also actually double as your battery.

A number of technologies still have to come together for something like this to really work. It would be interesting to see the specs and actually try one of these things out. My old flak jacket weighed a good 20lbs or so and was uncomfortable as hell (mid 80's). I hated the damn thing, and I wasn't even in the infantry! I was smart and drove to battle in my truck or track.

 

[sideranautae]

Researchers have created chargers that generate electricity based only on movement, but they are in the initial stages still and only generate power in the millivolts field. Most likely nowhere near enough to self-power the suit.

I played with some that were developed for the heal of a boot. Yes, only suitable for low powered stuff like short range radios. Current solutions, that would provide enough long term power, weigh a lot more than the proposed armor itself.

We're probably about 50-100 years out for suitable power storage.

 

[Condottiere]

Stillsuits; however, solid waste is fed some bacteria that converts into energy.

 

[Galadrion]

But in other areas science has made huge strides in more efficiently storing electricity in useful things like carbon nanotubes or graphene. So your body armor could also actually double as your battery.

Mm... yes, that's technically possible, but there are some serious issues involved, as well. Remember, that stuff's armor, which means that its function is to get hit. So what happens when it gets hit hard enough to break? Does the charge just become inaccessible? Or does it... discharge? And if the latter, how catastrophically? This is going to be a pretty serious consideration for the person inside that armor...