The future, or at least glimpses of it, is here. Well, at least in terms of military technology, which always seems to come first. According to the most recent projects set forth by various companies and research agencies, the combatants of tomorrow will be a totally different breed of fighting machines, endowed with artificial implants and prosthetics, robotic exoskeletons, and digital buddies that will be played by Artificial Intelligence (AI). These are the latest ideas to come out of the US Army's Natick Soldier Research Design and Engineering Center, in Massachusetts, LiveScience reports.

One of the things everyone seems to agree upon is that future soldiers absolutely require augmented mental performances. Moving past the myriad of ethical issues that arise from using such systems, weapons want to employ drugs or prosthetic devices to enhance skills such as hearing, which could mean the difference between life and death on the battlefield. The soldiers could be completely immersed in the fighting environment by using data gloves to control distant robots and sensors, or goggles to enhance vision, and superimpose schematics and other data on the wearers' fields of view. Augmented-reality systems are also instruments that are very likely to be used in future weapon systems.

The idea is to have all this wealth of data presented to the soldier via a digital buddy that could be even made to adapt to its assigned military man's strength, weaknesses, and special skills. These buddies could also communicate with others, taking care of other soldiers, which could further increase the combat effectiveness of small squads, experts believe. The AI companions could also monitor battery, supply and ammunition levels, and automatically call for resupply vehicles when the level runs low.

More closely to the soldiers, headgear and uniforms could evolve to a point where they have nothing left in common with what we know today. Technologies such as piezoelectrics, self-cleaning fabrics, wound-fighting textiles, wearable antennas, GPSs, infrared sensors and carbon nanotubes could become the norm, helping warn, protect and take care of the soldiers in case of an emergency. All of this could be placed atop exoskeletal robots, which are machines covering the lower part of the body that allow soldiers to carry heavy weapons, shields and other tools they may require.