14 DAY TRIAL // We suppose it was only a matter of time before the whole concept of high-tech, full body suits of armor started to be seriously considered as viable, and even necessary, additions to the army's equipment stores.
What was not as expected was that 3D printing technology would so quickly become a viable means to produce such robotic exoskeletons and suits. However, that has, indeed, happened.
It will take years for the first prototypes to be field tested, especially since each suit will probably have to be custom-printed for each member of the armed forces. Nevertheless, it is, at this point, inevitable.
In fact, the US military has commissioned the services of Legacy Effects, the Hollywood FX firm that was responsible for Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man armors, the ones used in the three “Iron man” movies and “Avengers.”
On that note, Legacy Effects also created the props for The Terminator, RoboCop, Captain America, and Pacific Rim, among others.
Its experience in fitting actors with great-looking but also comfortable and practical (more or less) costumes will be soon put to the ultimate test: making props that work in real life as movies portray them.
An Iron Man suit that actually does what movie special effects say it does will be the first project, though the US military is calling it the TALOS Program, with TALOS standing for Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit.
In all fairness, the suit looks anything but “light” in the image above. Then again, we suppose it's “lighter” than the sort of exosuit featured in Edge of Tomorrow.
To start with, Legacy Effects will only 3D print prototype components of the advanced suit. The armor will contain a built-in exoskeleton on which are affixed a cooling system and an augmented reality visor (like Google Glass but rugged).
Lots of weapon compartments will no doubt be included eventually, but mobility, protection, comfort, and situational awareness are the first order of business.
The Hollywood prop maker will work together with defense contractors Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and General Dynamics. Insect exoskeletons and the way sumo wrestlers move are among the things being studied at present, in the hopes that the collaborators will be able to figure out to make the heavy bodysuit move fluidly (the weight will be of 180 kilos / 400 pounds or so, of which 90% will be accounted for by the batteries alone).