It will have an on-board computer and should shrug off bullets easily

Oct 10, 2013 08:47 GMT  ·  By

Technology like the one in the new Marvel movie universe isn't all that far from what we can actually accomplish in real life, and the US army is about to prove that with the Iron Man armor.

Although it's not going to be called Iron Man armor, or War Machine. Instead, it bears the moniker of TALOS.

Well, TALOS is really an acronym for Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, but don't let the "light" part fool you. There's nothing light about the destruction this thing will be able to inflict.

Then again, it is doubtful that people wearing this combat armor will be able to cause more damage than regular weaponry. It's not like the TALOS comes with some super bazooka or anything.

Instead, the armor focuses on protection and the enhancement of the wearer's natural abilities.

For one thing, the armor will have an on-board computer that will independently survey the area and respond to situations, providing users with better situational awareness.

There probably won't be a HUD (holographic user interface) at first, but if things like Google Glass can act as they do, a high-tech helmet is bound to be able to do the same.

More importantly, the TALOS might use the liquid armor that is currently under development at MIT.

Said armor transforms from liquid into solid, in milliseconds, just by applying a magnetic field or electrical current to it.

"[The] requirement is a comprehensive family of systems in a combat armor suit where we bring together an exoskeleton with innovative armor, displays for power monitoring, health monitoring, and integrating a weapon into that -- a whole bunch of stuff that RDECOM is playing heavily in," said. Lt. Col. Karl Borjes, an RDECOM science advisor assigned to SOCOM.

In Greek mythology, Talos or Talon was a giant man of bronze who protected Europa in Crete from pirates and invaders by circling the island's shores three times daily while guarding it. He had a single vein that ran from his neck to his ankle, and was slain when the nail in his ankle was taken out, spilling the ichor "like molten led."

Presumable, the army's TALOS won't have such a weakness. Also presumably, it won't really look very glamorous, at least at first.

Photo Gallery (2 Images)

The Iron Man suit, so close and yet so far
The inception of TALOS
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