US army develops robotic suits

[Mugu]

By Rajesh Mirchandani, BBC News, Utah

On the big screen, films like Robocop, Universal Soldier and forthcoming release Iron Man show man-machines with superhuman powers. But in Utah they are turning science fiction into reality.

We are at a research facility on the outskirts of Salt Lake City, ringed by beautiful snow-capped mountains. Once they held the Winter Olympics here; now they are testing endurance in other ways.

The aluminium limbs gleam in the brilliant sunshine, as the strange metal skeleton hangs from a safety harness at the outdoor testing site. It seems to be treading water; actually its programme is telling it to keep the hydraulic fluid in its joints moving.

snip

The lightweight aluminium exoskeleton, called XOS, senses Rex's every move and instantly moves with him; it is almost like a shadow or a second skin. It is designed for agility that can match a human's, but with strength and endurance that far outweigh our abilities.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7351314.stm">Complete article

[Phoonzang]

1. Space Marines?

[Arctic Dave]

2. Darth cheney finally gets his stormtroopers.

[Orrex]

3. Yet another of Nostradamus' predictions proven true!

Amazing--word for word!

[Fumesucker]

4. Yawn...

A concept from the dusty past of SF.

Starship Troopers had the idea.. (1959)

And Haldeman's "The Forever War" too.. (1974)

One book by a WWII vet, the other by a Vietnam vet, very different yet surprisingly similar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Forever_War