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Military's 'Iron Man' Suit May Be Ready to Test This Summer
By Denise Chow
The first prototypes of a high-tech suit of armor to give soldiers superhuman abilities could be ready to test this summer, according to top military officials. The suits, which have drawn comparisons to the one worn by Marvel Comics superhero "Iron Man," could be delivered to special operations forces as early as June.
The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or TALOS, is being developed by engineers at MIT; the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM); and researchers at other businesses and academic institutions. Prototypes of the suit, which is designed to provide protection from bullets and is equipped with a variety of sensors and cameras, are being assembled and could be ready for the military to test in June, reported Military.com.
The TALOS technology will be rigorously tested, and military personnel hope to have operational systems in the field by August 2018, according to Navy Adm. William McRaven, head of the U.S. Special Operations Command. [See video of the military's futuristic TALOS suit]
"That suit, if done correctly, will yield a revolutionary improvement in survivability and capability for special operators," McRaven said at the 25th annual Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict conference this week in Washington, D.C., according to Military.com.
The suit includes features such as 360-degree cameras with built-in night vision capabilities, sensors that can detect injuries and apply wound-sealing foam, and bulletproof armor.
Eventually, the TALOS systems may include full-body exoskeletons complete with screens that display information about a soldier's surroundings, according to Military.com.
The technology could give American soldiers a "huge comparative advantage over our enemies and give our warriors the protection they need," McRaven said.
Government agencies, corporations, universities and national laboratories are collaborating on the TALOS project, and the military may explore ways to distribute prize money as an incentive for others to get involved in the program, McRaven said.
"We are already seeing astounding results of this collaboration," he added.
The TALOS project began as a way to explore how technology can be used to protect special operations officers better in combat zones. "With all the advances in modern technology, I know we can do better," McRaven said.
By Patrick SmithBy Denise Chow
The first prototypes of a high-tech suit of armor to give soldiers superhuman abilities could be ready to test this summer, according to top military officials. The suits, which have drawn comparisons to the one worn by Marvel Comics superhero "Iron Man," could be delivered to special operations forces as early as June.
The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or TALOS, is being developed by engineers at MIT; the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM); and researchers at other businesses and academic institutions. Prototypes of the suit, which is designed to provide protection from bullets and is equipped with a variety of sensors and cameras, are being assembled and could be ready for the military to test in June, reported Military.com.
The TALOS technology will be rigorously tested, and military personnel hope to have operational systems in the field by August 2018, according to Navy Adm. William McRaven, head of the U.S. Special Operations Command. [See video of the military's futuristic TALOS suit]
"That suit, if done correctly, will yield a revolutionary improvement in survivability and capability for special operators," McRaven said at the 25th annual Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict conference this week in Washington, D.C., according to Military.com.
The suit includes features such as 360-degree cameras with built-in night vision capabilities, sensors that can detect injuries and apply wound-sealing foam, and bulletproof armor.
Eventually, the TALOS systems may include full-body exoskeletons complete with screens that display information about a soldier's surroundings, according to Military.com.
The technology could give American soldiers a "huge comparative advantage over our enemies and give our warriors the protection they need," McRaven said.
Government agencies, corporations, universities and national laboratories are collaborating on the TALOS project, and the military may explore ways to distribute prize money as an incentive for others to get involved in the program, McRaven said.
"We are already seeing astounding results of this collaboration," he added.
The TALOS project began as a way to explore how technology can be used to protect special operations officers better in combat zones. "With all the advances in modern technology, I know we can do better," McRaven said.
US Military Ready To Test Real Life Iron Man Battle Suits This Summer
Research has been under way on the Tactical Light Operator Suit for years and they will become a reality in June.
The Iron Man comics and films aren’t that far-fetched: the US military has been researching an advanced battle armour suit for years and a prototype is now expected to be ready for testing this summer.
Defensetech.org reports that three early versions of the Tactical Light Assault Operator Suit (TALOS) are expected to be delivered in June. Plans are in place for the suits to be used on the battlefield by 2018.
The US Special Operation Command (USSOC), which oversees elements of the army, air force and navy, called for researchers to come up with ideas for making this happen last year.
Since then, 56 companies, 16 US government agencies, 13 universities and 10 national laboratories have been working on this, given its importance and the potential money involved.
USSOC commander Navy Admiral William McRaven told a military equipment conference in Washington DC on Tuesday: “That suit, if done correctly, will yield a revolutionary improvement in survivability and capability for special operators.”
The idea for the suit reportedly arose when a young special operations soldier was shot and killed after entering a building.
Adm. McRaven was asked by a young solider asked him why there isn’t a better way to protect soliders - a question he says he couldn’t answer.
Bullets will - in theory - ping off the suit harmlessly just like Iron Man.
One idea is to fit the suit with magnetorheological fluids that “transform from liquid to solid in milliseconds when a magnetic field or electrical current is applied”, the US army says. Liquid body armour, in other words.
The official document announcing the scheme last year asked technologists to come with gadgets and features for the suit, all of which sound like they’re straight from Tony Stark’s workshop.One thing that seems out of reach of even America’s finest military minds is how to make the things fly, however.
