HULC Carry Heavy Stuff, Not Smash!

[The_root_of_all_evil]

HULC Carry Heavy Stuff, Not Smash!

Power armor is one giant leap closer with the HULC exoskeleton, making soldiers better, stronger, faster.

The new Lockheed Martin developed HULC (Human Universal Load Carrier) exoskeleton can increase human strength enough to let a soldier carry a 200-pound load while running at 10 mph, but unlike other bulky suits this one not only has an internal power supply (so no bulky cables) but only takes 30 seconds to remove.

Four lithium ion batteries power the suit, nestled into the small of the wearer's back, and that alone can keep the suit charged for 48 hours.

While wearing the HULC, you can still walk, run, kneel, crawl or jump as the computer's artificial intelligence moves the hydraulic system to amplify and enhance that movement.

Professor Aaron Dollar at Yale University explains that one of the hardest things to do in science is to improve on a evolutionary design.

"Walking is one of the things that the human body is most efficient at," said Dollar. "Anytime something is really good, like human walking, it is hard to improve it."

Source: MSNBC [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30071151/]. Link from Smugfrog


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[Cpt_Oblivious]

I think I saw the prototype of this being nicknamed "Weightlifting for geeks".

Either way I want some.

 

[Corven]

I want to meet the person who has to sit around all day trying to come up with the names for these things, you know the name H.U.L.C. didn't just happen by accident.

 

[fix-the-spade]

How long before extreme types start jumping off buildings strapped to these things?

Or better yet, how long before before the SAS modify one to jump up buildings?

 

[ShadowKirby]

I'm still waiting for those suits to come with machine guns and rockets. And a jetpack.

 

[scotth266]

Interesting tech that still has a long way to go. I doubt that the name was coincidence though.

 

[51gunner]

I think some people are misunderstanding the point of this equipment. It's not being made so that troops can be loaded down with 200 pounds of equipment, it's being made so that troops can deal with the intense loads that they have to carry currently.

A weapon, ammunition, armor, and water for a desert environment adds up really quickly. For anyone who hasn't tried wearing this much, it's a tiring load, that has to be carried for hours and hours at a time. You can't drop any of it, and woe unto you if you're carrying the section's radio or are one of the machine gunners.

 

[Erana]

WANT.

Seriously, I really wanna try that out. It sounds soo cool!
But what would it do to human joints after prolonged periods of use?

 

[Abedeus]

200 pounds? Holy crap. For 48 hours?

And I thought those exoskeletons that allow even disabled lift ~500 pounds were cool, even though they lasted for VERY short (2 hours).

Also I demand it's changed to Human Universal Load Karrier. It must be this way.

 

[Onyx Oblivion]

You wouldn't like me when I'm wearing my H.U.L.C...

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

A weapon, ammunition, armor, and water for a desert environment adds up really quickly. For anyone who hasn't tried wearing this much, it's a tiring load, that has to be carried for hours and hours at a time. You can't drop any of it, and woe unto you if you're carrying the section's radio or are one of the machine gunners.

Wounded bodies also weigh an awful lot, especially those that aren't able to use their own legs.

 

[Frizzle]

I think they need to focus on making things lighter, as opposed to making us artificially stronger for a short period of time. Anyone who's ever worked with military equipment knows that it only works about 40% of the time (except guns, they are reliable). Imagine loading up with all your crap, and then 5km into your march, your exoskeleton goes out. Then what? You've got a 50lb piece of crap that you won't be allowed to leave behind, and you STILL have to carry your 200lbs (which isn't really that much if you're not running.

On the running thing, has anyone tested this anywhere besides a straight track? I highly doubt this thing can match a human's reflexes and agility. All in all, I do not support this idea at all. Lazy Army.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

On the running thing, has anyone tested this anywhere besides a straight track? I highly doubt this thing can match a human's reflexes and agility. All in all, I do not support this idea at all. Lazy Army.

Well, as it carries eight batteries, I'm reasonably sure that 96 hours will be enough to get between pitstops, but anyway the device is a magnifier of actions rather than acting by itself, so the reflexes/agility actually come from the person using it, so best not used when drunk.

I think they worked out the problems with exaggerating fine motor control in case someone tried to rub their eyes with it on.

 

[Freiss]

How long till M.J.O.L.N.I.R...

 

[Monkfish Acc.]

I am filled with the desire to suit up in one of those things and jump as high as I can.
I could totally be Batman with one of those things.

 

[Reaperman Wompa]

...I Can't even express how much I want one. That is so cool. I used to think America was going overboard with it's military, but this makes up for it, it's (basic but still) power armour dammit.

Interesting to see how they continue with it, maybe they can get human speed up, then put armour over it to protect the wearer, who would be able to carry the weight thanks to the armour, might make these useful in actual combat.