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U.S. military develops Robocop armour for soldiers
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| josh4 |
| quote: | U.S. military develops Robocop armour for soldiers
By MATTHEW HICKLEY, Defence Correspondent
We may have seen it all before in science-fiction films. But the bionic warrior is in fact a vision of real-life warfare in the 21st century. U.S. defence chiefs hope to have their troops kitted out in the outlandish combat gear as soon as 2020.
Included in the Pentagon's Future Warrior Concept are a powerful exoskeleton, a self-camouflaging outer layer that adapts to changing environments and a helmet which translates a soldier's voice into any foreign language.
The future soldier will also benefit from 'intelligent' armour, which remains light and flexible until it senses an approaching bullet, then tenses to become bulletproof.
Perhaps worryingly, several of the planned enhancements seem to owe more than a little to Hollywood blockbusters such as Robocop, Aliens and Predator.
But officials are quick to point out that many of these systems are already working in prototype form, or are refinements of proven technologies.
Some of the blueprints will be unworkable without eagerly awaited advances in nanotechnology, but researchers remain confident. And perhaps with good reason.
The sheer scale of U.S. military research spending and the pace of recent advances in aircraft stealth technology and guided precision bombs are staggering.
Project specialist Jean-Louis DeGay, a former captain in 75th Ranger Regiment, said: "We're already trialling equipment and technologies that did not exist a few years ago.
"The air force has just debuted its new stun gun and five years after the concept of an exoskeleton was first discussed, we have fully functioning prototypes."
He told Soldier magazine: "Five years ago, nobody thought we'd have a portable hydrogen fuel cell, but we've got them now.
"They're functioning, and we're just trying to make them smaller. And if I'm honest, nothing speeds up the development of technology like war."
If the U.S. military's vision of the future is even half-right, Britain's armed forces will have their work cut out trying to keep up.
Even comparatively understated attempts to improve our troops' battlefield technology, such as the Bowman digital battlefield radio system, have been blighted by years of delays and embarrassing technical blunders.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...in_page_id=1965 |
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| ResonantDrag |
now if we could tweek the design....
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| Dj O'Callaghan |
| hmmmmm I'm very skeptical about this. In theory it would revolutionise warfare. However that gun looks utterly gash and is totally unpractical, especially when operating in situations where civilians are present let alone fellow troops. |
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| EvilTree |
Still waiting for power armour from Starship Troopers. (the book, not the movie!)
Failing that, I'll take a Space Marine Terminator suit :p |
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| venomX |
| It's funny how the states invests so heavily in war equipment and so shallowly in making peace. Seems they don't foresee peaceful times any time soon. I guess one can't say anything about the military driven economy of the states lest the neocons jump at one. So many mouths to be fed, so many schools to be built, but hey I guess making robocop a reality is more cool than feeding hungry children. |
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| Marc Summers |
| quote: | Originally posted by venomX
It's funny how the states invests so heavily in war equipment and so shallowly in making peace. Seems they don't foresee peaceful times any time soon. I guess one can't say anything about the military driven economy of the states lest the neocons jump at one. So many mouths to be fed, so many schools to be built, but hey I guess making robocop a reality is more cool than feeding hungry children. |
+1, i was going to post UN peackeeping forces, but it turns out they carry guns, too. |
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| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by Marc Summers
+1, i was going to post UN peackeeping forces, but it turns out they carry guns, too. |
What did you think they carry, a ing stick? LOL |
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| Marc Summers |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
What did you think they carry, a ing stick? LOL |
flowers :o |
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| EvilTree |
| quote: | Originally posted by Marc Summers
flowers :o |
Tanks and gunships that shoots out flowers ftw! |
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| Fir3start3r |
| quote: | Originally posted by EvilTree
Tanks and gunships that shoots out flowers ftw! |
It would be the ultimate hippie fest! :p
LOL @ ResonantDrag
I was thinking along the lines of:
...but I had a good chuckle at yours :p |
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| ResonantDrag |
| quote: | Originally posted by Fir3start3r
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+1:stongue: |
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