Exoskeleton Suit

It has been a while since I posted anything on exo-skeletons. This video is amazing it is simple in nature and cost-effective solution. It is a working draft that can help so many people once it becomes available. Well done Dr. Amit Goffer! Well done sir!

Raytheon Updates the Exoskeleton

It has been a while since I have posted a science fiction becoming science fact update, Ratheon Corporation has updated its exoskeletal system with EXO2 making the future of human worn suits of armor once more a practical. The possible uses for this technology do not end with military missions. The reality of these sorts of devices is one that will take a decade to matriculate into our society, but I can see them in every walk and climb from the obvious military applications, to the more critical civil defense applications of police and fire fighters (urban and forest), and then let us not for get all jobs that require repeditive motions and heavy lifting. The future will benefit from this research greatly in my opinion. There will also be its corresponding woes but that has always been the way of advancements.

An Interesting Weapons Platform... Weaponized Drones

This platform has an interesting level of flexibility. I can see several possible uses of such an armed delivery crate to to the battlefield. Though It might need some tweaking to be more effectively dropped in concert with a combat team. However if dropped into say a terrorist training camp it just might do a bit of damage. There are some obvious design flaws with the system as presented but given a bit of mobility this platform would be very deadly. It could operate as a sort of US Army Drone sent in to absorb the brunt of an assault and each cannons or missle racks could be manned by a soldier in a far away save bunker similar to USAF Preditor Drone pilots.

Obviously the concepts needs some refinement but it has potential in my estimation.

Not the usual topic for this blog but still it is VERY COOL!

A friend sent this YouTube video to me and it is absolutely amazing to watch the level of presision control that has been achieve with this water fountain.

As for a possible sci-fi application I see a day when many businesses in a quest for green points will utilize water gardens for small carbon credits and what advertising genius is not going to want to advertise something in such a "peaceful fashion"? Mark my words on this this is likely to find its way into many public entities and private businesses.

SARCOS vs. Starship Trooper's MI Armor

As suggested by a respondent to a previous blog entry here is my look at SARCOS,

I am a HUGE Robert Heinlein fan. Not only because of his MI Armor but the sense of responsiblilty that his writings also carry. Though that topic isn't what I am going to discuss. If you haven't READ Starship Troopers and you are in anyway interested in this topic, you really should pick up a book or listen to the unabridged audio book. The movie STUNK! It was inaccurate and vulgar in places. The director and screen writer slaughtered the story and its meaning in that travesty of a book to film endeavor. That is my opinion of their "screen license" that they took in bringing the movie to fruition, but I have digressed.

I am going too do a bit of compare and contrast between how the SARCOS team has done in measuring up to one of the more practical descriptions of Advanced Military Grade Armor. Before we do here is a YouTube video that I think fairly demonstrates the state of the SARCOS project as of 2007.

Here are a few quotes describing the MI Armor, from Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers book which was published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 1959; following each quote I will give a summary of my perception of the SARCOS Team's status.

Our suits give us better eyes, better ears, stronger backs (to carry heavier weapons and more ammo), better legs, more intelligence (in the military meaning...), more firepower, greater endurance, less vulnerability.

Eyes, Ears and intelligence haven't been developed very thoroughly yet.

Legs, Back and endurance capabilities appear to be accomplished to an appriciable level.

The external armor is in need of more work in order to address the vulnerability.

A suit isn't a space suit - although it can serve as one. It is not primarily armor - although the Knights of the Round Table were not armored as well as we are. It isn't a tank - but a single M.I. [Mobile Infantry] private could take on a squadron of those things and knock them off unassisted...

This armored suit portion is in need of work as are the assault capabilities.

...Suited up, you look like a big steel gorilla, armed with gorilla-sized weapons.

This is likely to be the case based on some of the exo-skeletal coverings.

The real genius in the design is that you don't have to control the suit; you just wear it, like your clothes, like skin.

This appears to be the goal of the project and they are off to a good start.

The secret lies in negative feedback and amplification.

I am not sure about this point. I will have to do some more digging.

Since your head is the one part of your body not involved in the pressure receptors controlling the suit's muscles, you use your head -- your jaw muscles, your chin, your neck -- to switch things for you and thereby leave your hands free to fight.

This is an area that to my knowledge hasn't been developed in any clear detail. But it seems reasonable to speculate that a similar form of control would be fairly workable.

A chin plate handles all visual displays the way the jaw switch handles the audios. All displays are thrown on a mirror in front of your forehead from where the work is actually going on above and back of your head.

This is an area that to my knowledge hasn't been developed in any clear detail. But it seems reasonable to speculate that a similar form of control would be fairly workable.

All this helmet gear makes you look like a hydrocephalic gorilla but, with luck, the enemy won't live long enough to be offended by your appearance, and it is a very convenient arrangement; you can flip through your several types of radar displays quicker than you can change channels to avoid a commercial -- catch a range & bearing, locate your boss, check your flank men, whatever.

This is an area that to my knowledge hasn't been developed in any clear detail. But it seems reasonable to speculate that a similar form of control would be fairly workable. The advanced battle ground intelligence system has already developed by the Army and could be integrated into any HUD system.

Now I know I have been abducted by Aliens...

As some of you know I was a CAD Draftsman in another life. I still keep tabs on Autodesk's doings as it is tangetially part of my current job assisting other CAD Draftsmen (well truthfully they are all women). So when a friend forwarded this video that was "sponsered by Autodesk" I naturally opened it and watch it for some relivence. Now I am begining to wonder about a few missing moments... Unfortuneately, I seem to have forgotten them in their entirety... ;)

Watch this video and I think you will enjoy his subtle comedic humor... I know I did.

Bioplastics a product for the future.

Yesterday, I came across a line of products that are absolutely fascinating! I had never heard of this stuff before. While I don't fully agree with the purpose or their business model they have chosen for their product and activism, I do completely support what they have created. They are significant strides froward in our quest to free ourselves from the oil cartel.

There is more information about bioplastics at Wikipedia. Ultimately I believe there is much that we can do with this technology.

Yes I know it will surprise some folks to hear a pro-oil Alaskan like myself endorse biomass products but you really shouldn't be surprised. I am the father of four kids and I am a former Boy Scout who lived the motto and left no trace on my outdoor adventures. While I know that we can safely develop the oil that we have in places like ANWR, from years of watching the oil patch on the North Slope of Alaska, that doesn't mean I am unaware of the need we all have fore developing cleaner systems where we can.

I have the same expectations for my children in that respect. I encourage them to pick up after themselves and in fact I have on complaining at this very minute because he cannot go and play until he picks up the mess he has made in the living room. That said you should see why I see great potential in this technology. Biomass is a renewable source of raw material. Though I honestly don't believe we should be burning corn or other food stocks for fuel, due to the damage it does to the average family's food budget. I do fully support the concept and the advances that are beginning to appear.