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posted by CoolHand on Monday August 24 2015, @09:53AM   Printer-friendly
from the kids-will-finally-have-the-strength-to-carry-their-schoolbooks dept.

NextBigFuture highlights this passive exoskeleton proof-of-concept being tested by the Australian Defence Science and Technology Group:

The current generation of powered exoskeletons uses a complex system of rigid linkages and mechatronics. They are showing real promise in enabling the wearer to lift and move about with very heavy loads.

However, the design and natural movement of the human body tends to battle with the exoskeleton movement, causing a dramatic increase in the user's energy cost when walking with a load. These systems tend to be heavy (>35 kg), very expensive and power hungry.

Defence science and technology researchers have developed a simple, lightweight (3 kg) fully-passive exoskeleton. This system uses Bowden cables to attached to a rigid backpack frame. The cables run down the back and legs to the base of the boot and transfer approximately two thirds of the backpack load to the ground. This load force bypasses the user's body, reducing compression forces from the backpack load through the torso and legs.

The benefits of such a system compared to a powered exoskeleton include: simplicity, no requirements for heavy batteries; low cost; easier to integrate with the user and equipment and redundancy when no longer required – remove and add to pack.

The development is at a proof-of-concept stage with early testing showing encouraging results. However, the biomechanics of the system require extensive refinement to ensure it is integrated optimally with the soldier and truly fit for purpose.

Earlier in the year, Carnegie Mellon and North Carolina State researchers showed off a prototype ankle exoskeleton that reduces the metabolic cost of walking by approximately 7 percent, which is about the equivalent of taking off a 10-pound backpack.


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  • (Score: 3, Insightful) by basstard on Monday August 24 2015, @10:29AM

    by basstard (5595) on Monday August 24 2015, @10:29AM (#226968)
    This sounds very useful for solo trekker like myself. My backpack tends to be very heavy, as I carry all the tent and camera gear myself. However, I am more than a bit doubtful about the performance on very rough terrain.
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  • (Score: 2, Offtopic) by Runaway1956 on Monday August 24 2015, @11:39AM

    by Runaway1956 (2926) Subscriber Badge on Monday August 24 2015, @11:39AM (#226985) Journal

    Olive drab and camo green. I insist on Navy blue, or Royal blue, sky blue, robin egg blue, ANY nice blue color. Black would work, too. OD or camo? I'll carry the load myself, thank you very much.

    And, yeah, you're almost certainly right about rough terrain. Those cables are going to want to poke into the ground, it looks like. Maybe they need to be incorporated into some nice big Mickey Mouse boots, instead of a silly pair of Nike tennis shoes.

    If I don't have to wear an Army OD rig, I'd be willing to test it. I might be pleasantly surprised.

  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 24 2015, @05:29PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 24 2015, @05:29PM (#227130)

    Have you ever heard of lightweight and ultralight backpacking? Take half of their advice and you can get a base pack weight with camera gear for 15 pounds. Take all their advice and you will realize just how little all of us really need.

    An example: A standard tent starts at about five pounds. A modern backpacking tent weighs in at just under three pounds all included. If you have trekking poles switch to a tent that uses those for double-duty instead. Now you are down to about a pound and a half for shelter. Like hammocks and go somewhere that has trees? Take a hammock and you are down to a pound. All you really, truly need is something that keeps the rain off: bivvy with bugnet and you are down to the weight of a candybar. But the most important advice is this: The most weight you can cut off of any object is 100%; by leaving it at home.

    Apply the level of that reasoning you are comfortable with to all your gear and you will never call your pack heavy again.