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2007-11-25 Science & Technology

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Posted by Anonymoose 2007-11-25 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11138 views ] Top

#1 Nice vid. What's interesting about this is its eventual potential; even right now, this prototype is quite amazing, though one can have doubt about its practicality, especially in a combat environment (as opposed to the moving of supplies).
Still, given the pace of technology, Shirow's landmates may be more than a fanboy's mecha fantasy, after all, eventually.

I wonder why firearms technology doesn't seem to follow the same steep trend of increase as associated fields (military robotics, networking, stealth, probably upcoming enhanced vehicles armoring,...)? I mean, you've got add-ons like red-dot sights, hi-tech scopes, or ballistic computers, but nothing on the guns themselves, the M16 for example even with its myriad of variants and add-ons still is a 40 years+ unchanged design, and a WWI rifle like the Mauser 98 works just as fine when it comes to put a bullet downrange.

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-11-25 05:01|| 2007-11-25 05:01|| Front Page Top

#2 Another one for RAH!

Posted by g(r)omgoru 2007-11-25 08:48|| 2007-11-25 08:48|| Front Page Top

#3 I haven't read Heinlein in quite some times, but this one looks more like the "Aliens" exoskeleton than the "Starship troopers" powered armor suits. So, there's still much work to do, but... OTHO, this might come in very handy, should we ever be faced with a troublesome giant spacebug Queen.

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-11-25 09:05|| 2007-11-25 09:05|| Front Page Top

#4 Importantly, what has inhibited exoskeletons in the past is the obvious: they are large, heavy, and bulky.

But this may change, because of the invention of advanced materials. The capabilities of some of these defies experience, and seem impossible. For example, how could a thin carbon nanotube fiber be stronger than a thick steel bar? Or light, thin, almost flexible stuff that looks like plastic, but stops bullets better than armor?

So re-imagine that exoskeleton if it could fit in a jump suit slightly larger than the man wearing it? Much like the kevlar body suit that the President wears underneath his suit.

Importantly, if you integrated the mechanical hands into the palms of gloves, they would obey the gentle motion of your hands, but have the strength of the exoskeleton.

You would still need a backpack energy supply, of course, since things like fuel cannot be effectively reduced in size or increased in energy. But otherwise, in many respects it would be like a superhero costume worn by an ordinary person. To someone else it would look like you were unnaturally strong, but it would be the exoskeleton doing the work, with you just guiding it.

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-11-25 10:16|| 2007-11-25 10:16|| Front Page Top

#5 Energy is the biggest constraint for fielding a whole slew of technologies, including dramatically different soldier-carried weapons.

re: suits, there has been some conceptual work on nanotech suits that could alternate between free movement states and armored states. These include some exoskeletal enhancement as well. Still a lot of work to do to turn those concept demos into workable, wearable, manufacturable and fieldable items.

Posted by lotp 2007-11-25 11:38|| 2007-11-25 11:38|| Front Page Top

#6
I see these exoskeleton suits eventually evolving into the Armored Combat Suits that John Ringo features prominently in his Legacy of the Aldenata series.

Quite a good read, and the suits are a considerable force multiplier.

Posted by Lemuel Theth2431 2007-11-25 13:19|| 2007-11-25 13:19|| Front Page Top

#7 IIRC, the Starship troopers have TACTCAL NUKES in their on-board arsenal; I'd definitvely consider that a force multiplier.

Posted by anonymous5089 2007-11-25 14:05|| 2007-11-25 14:05|| Front Page Top

#8 I've been thinking about this today, and they might be missing a bet here. That is, don't assume you need to do two handed lifts. What if, for example, you had a device that paralleled your right leg, up your right side and your right arm.

It would still be very useful, if you could lift a hundred and fifty pounds with "just one arm", like those heavy ammo cans he was lifting in the video.

Typically such lifts are "two man lifts" in the military, and it is a strain for both individuals. Often objects are two small for "three man lifts", but too heavy for "two man lifts".

Posted by Anonymoose 2007-11-25 17:10|| 2007-11-25 17:10|| Front Page Top

#9 Love to see an ACS put into our arsenal.

They'd have to wake up the "Triple Nickle" Battalion just for that unit.

THe big holdup is power.

Posted by OldSpook 2007-11-25 22:33|| 2007-11-25 22:33|| Front Page Top

#10 MAXIMUM ARMOUR!

http://www.ea.com/crysis/home.jsp

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2007-11-25 22:41|| 2007-11-25 22:41|| Front Page Top

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