For better or worse, our world is filled with things that once only existed in science-fiction stories. Now it appears that comic books and anime have inspired a real Iron Man suit that may soon be used on the battlefield. Raytheon Company announced today that Raytheon Sarcos, its newest research facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, is developing a robotic ‘Exoskeleton’ for the soldier of tomorrow.
The Exoskeleton is essentially a wearable robot that amplifies its wearer’s strength, endurance and agility. Made of a combination of sensors, actuators and controllers, the futuristic device enables a test engineer to easily carry a man on his back or lift 200 pounds several hundred times without tiring. Yet Raytheon claims it is agile enough to play soccer and climb stairs and ramps.
Lead by Dr. Stephen Jacobsen, development of the Exoskeleton has been underway since 2000, and the U.S. Army will be the first beneficiary of the technology. Raytheon specializes in innovation for defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. Headquartered in Waltham, Mass., the company provides state-of-the art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing, effects, command and control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services.
