'Skeleton' for military personnel

The stronger, faster and harder are the characteristics of an "outer skeleton" made by Lockheed Martin for military personnel. This device called HULC allows soldiers to carry 90 kg of items and move at a maximum speed of 16 km / h.

"The military feels that he only carries an extra 2.3 to 4.5 kg," said Doug Medcalf, an analyst with Lockheed Martin. Currently in the United States, some military personnel carry nearly 60 kg of supplies.

A soldier with "skeleton out" HULC - Photo: Lockheed Martin

Unlike most "outer skeleton" designed to enhance human mobility, HULC is not limited by the length of its power cable. Instead, the HULC operates with four lithium ion batteries located in the belt of the soldier. 8 batteries allowed HULC to participate in "war" in 96 hours. The HULC is packed into a small package. The soldier just set foot on two pads under his shoe. The cord is tied around the thigh, waist and shoulders.

The foot pads ensure the weight of the item the soldier brings directly to the ground, not to the soldier's body. Inside the foot pad are pressure sensors that transmit information about the speed and movement of troops to a computer. Artificial Intelligence of the computer will "direct" the hydraulic system to complement and enhance that movement. HULC allows soldiers to go, run, kneel, crawl ...

If the soldier is attacked and needs more flexibility, the HULC can be removed for 30 seconds. Injured soldiers can be evacuated faster and easier by HULC-equipped comrades. The product was launched amid US troops saying about 20,000 troops were in "unreachable" status. Half of them have been injured in combat, the rest are physically fit, such as can not carry heavy.

Medcalf said Lockeed Martin could design another "skeleton" that could withstand higher loads, but they believed customers would have no need to carry more than 90 kilograms in person. While HULC has not been able to reduce injuries to military personnel, it is still a challenge for Lockeshift designers.