R&D, regardless if its for military, commercial, or academical endeavors often times end up resulting in advancements in other fields and being applied in civilian and military usages. Until humanity can "evolve" to a state beyond the need for violence (and i don't see that happening.) there is going to be research into how to better kill the enemy and protect/support your own troops. Honestly i rather see research into stuff like this because its not about directly killing but instead helping humans (soldiers in this case) carry heavy loads without slow downs and self injury. Once the technology is refined though military R&D and there is a commercial demand for power assisted harness then we could see this stuff in the civilian market for industrial, medical, or even recreational usages.
On the subject of power armor i think this type of technology is viable because the #1 reason people don't wear super heavy armor is because it weighs you down and limits mobility. Imagine heavy class IV or bomb suit thickness armor mounted on an exoskeleton frame covering the bulk of your body except thinner areas around the joints for mobility. Having protection from small arms fire and grenade fragmentation is quite valuable IMO to a soldier and with increased carrying ability with frames like these. Having this level of heavy armor could be possible and still keep a soldier combat effective. Trying to have armor that can take hits from heavier weapons like anti-material rounds, cannon rounds, etc isn't something your going to see from technology like this.
This tech is some very cool stuff and has far reaching possibilities for both military and civilian applications.
On the subject of power armor i think this type of technology is viable because the #1 reason people don't wear super heavy armor is because it weighs you down and limits mobility. Imagine heavy class IV or bomb suit thickness armor mounted on an exoskeleton frame covering the bulk of your body except thinner areas around the joints for mobility. Having protection from small arms fire and grenade fragmentation is quite valuable IMO to a soldier and with increased carrying ability with frames like these. Having this level of heavy armor could be possible and still keep a soldier combat effective. Trying to have armor that can take hits from heavier weapons like anti-material rounds, cannon rounds, etc isn't something your going to see from technology like this.
This tech is some very cool stuff and has far reaching possibilities for both military and civilian applications.
