2nd-generation Raytheon exoskeleton prototype vid

I remember awhile back when video of the original XOS prototype made the rounds. Well, now, defense behemoth Raytheon is back with another somewhat cheesy testosterone-fueled video showing the new lighter, stronger XOS 2 prototype performing various feats of strength in preparation for the upcoming holiday season. There’s heavy metal music and one of the actors from Iron Man who is not, ah, actually Iron Man.

All kidding aside, this is pretty neat. It supposedly uses 50% less power than the first prototype and is stronger to boot. And in spite of the “superweapon” marketing the concept sketches betray the rather more unglamorous function such devices are intended to play in a military context, i.e. allowing fewer people to load and unload more stuff, faster. [via Gizmodo]

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2 Responses to 2nd-generation Raytheon exoskeleton prototype vid

RocketGuy on September 28th, 2010 at 12:33 pm said:

The Aliens Loader and this thing almost look related.

I happened to have personally been in the room with one of the early research units in the lab (not at raytheon, but I think it may have been a partnership with them), it’s definitely come a long way.

Look forward to V3, and a non-militarized version…

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ROB K636 on September 28th, 2010 at 2:39 pm said:

Not full exoskeleton like the other but a backpack with legs.

“Berkeley Bionicsâ„¢, designs and manufactures lower extremity exoskeletons to augment human strength and endurance during locomotion. Berkeley Bionics exoskeletons increase wearer’s strength while decreasing their metabolic cost of walking. The company is also attacking the technological barriers to a practical, affordable exoskeleton for civilian and medical applications, particularly to assist patients with neurological or muscular mobility disorders. These powered human exoskeletons would allow their wearers to walk upright without the strain and muscular effort required by today’s unpowered orthotic devices.”

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