SOCOM Wants Iron-Man Suits for A Teams

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While most military requirements are derived from requests coming from the field, sometime troops would like to get stuff they have learned to play with in video games like this Ghost Recon and see on science fiction movies. Illustration: Tom Clancy Ghost Recon

The US Special Operations Command is looking for revolutionary new gear assisting troops in exceeding human performance in combat. The idea sounds similar to a science fiction tale, but if the command will be successful in its quest – this time it may be real. The command has posted a Request For Information (RFI) to government research centers, academy and industry, to provide information that could contribute to the evolution of the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or TALOS. Defense-Update reports.

The kit will be applied as part of a futuristic uniform suit, using powered exoskeleton providing the wearer superhuman strength or ultra protection with full-body ballistic armor. Using wide-area networking, wearable computers and antennae, operators will have more situational awareness, through bionic visual and aural sensing. Other technologies that could be implemented include non-visual means of information display, including the utilization of cognitive thoughts and immersive displays depicting personalized information over the surrounding environment. health and medical monitoring features could employ embedded monitoring, oxygen supply systems, wound stasis and electromechanical compensation. Thermal and energy generation and management are also likely to be explored.


The US Special Operations Command may be looking for an Iron Man type suite, at least this is how it sounds from the description of technologies for the TALOS suits. Illustration: Iron-Man 2

SOCOM issued the RFI on the US Government Federal Opportunity Bulletin board, and is expecting submissions by June 15. The command expects submissions of technologies already in development (TRL 5 or higher) that could be demonstrated in a short term. As much as this vision seems futuristic, SOCOM is looking for practical, near-term capabilities. typical of the command's no nonsense attitude, the technologies selected for demonstrations should be integrated to form an initial capability within twelve months. A secondary goal is to determine the feasibility of fielding objective capabilities within three years. Such technologies could be submitted by research and development organizations, private industry, government labs and academia as well as individuals.

One of the responders is the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), is one of the government establishments that have responded to the call. "There is no one industry that can build it," said SOCOM Senior Enlisted Advisor Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Faris during a panel discussion at a conference at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. The demonstrations of relevant technologies would take place a month later, on July 8-10, in Florida.

TALOS will have a physiological subsystem that lies against the skin that is embedded with sensors to monitor core body temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, body position and hydration levels. The body armor could consist of magnetorheological fluids – also known as 'liquid body armor' – that transforms from liquid to solid in milliseconds when a magnetic field or electrical current is applied. Though still in development, this technology will likely be submitted to support TALOS.

"[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. "RDECOM cuts across every aspect making up this combat armor suit," Borjes said "It's advanced armor. It's communications, antennas. It's cognitive performance. It's sensors, miniature-type circuits. That's all going to fit in here, too."

Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS) - YouTube

One of the programs that could be considered for this quest is 'Warrior Web', an exoskeleton capability currently managed by the Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA) and the U.S. Army, exploring a new kit enabling soldiers to reduce fatigue and potential injuries caused by excessive loads they carry on dismounted operations. DARPA's Warrior Web is a soft, lightweight under-suit that will augment the work of the Soldiers' own muscles, to significantly boosting endurance, carrying capacity and overall warfighter effectiveness–all while using no more than 100 Watts of electrical power.

The Warrior Web program consists of two related program tasks – the first task currently underway aims to develop a mix of core 'critical technologies', deemed criticalCurrently underway, Task A seeks to develop a mix of core technologies deemed critical for the program's success. On the second phase, scheduled to commence in fall 2013 researchers will develop and fabricate an integrated suit that would eventually undergo real-world testing to evaluate its performance.

A prototype suit is already undergoing testing at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory Human Research and Engineering Directorate (ARL HRED), evaluating various prototype devices. The testing evaluates how each prototype incorporates different technologies and approaches to reduce forces on the body, decrease fatigue, stabilize joints and help Soldiers to maintain a natural gait under a heavy load. The testing uses a multi-camera motion-capture system to determine any changes in gait or balance, a cardio-pulmonary exercise testing device to measure oxygen consumption and a variety of sensors to collect force, acceleration and muscle activity data.

SOCOM Wants Iron-Man Suits for A Teams - Defense Update - Military Technology & Defense News
 

W.G.Ewald

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A suit like that has got to be cumbersome and inhibit movement. The justification is absurd:
While most military requirements are derived from requests coming from the field, sometime troops would like to get stuff they have learned to play with in video games like this Ghost Recon and see on science fiction movies.
 

arnabmit

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Actually in such a suit, the actuators will do all the work, and not the muscles. So the suit will not only take care of it's own weight, but take the stress and strain of the wearer's muscles as well.

DARPA HULC is already the first step which will allow the wearer to run miles with a 70kg weight without breaking sweat.

Also, if you are basically wearing an armored car on you, you can well sacrifice a bit of reflex and swiftness... IMHO.

A suit like that has got to be cumbersome and inhibit movement. The justification is absurd:
 

Abhijeet Dey

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US Army to get Iron Man suit for troops in just four years

LINK: sploid.gizmodo.com/us-army-wants-to-get-iron-man-suit-for-troops-in-just-f-1467299501

This is not the first time that the US Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM) has talked about their desire to get a real life version of Iron Man's suit for soldiers, but now it's giving a very specific timeframe: "The goal is to have a contract in place by next fall and have suits ready for full field testing in about four years."

While the Army's Iron Man suit—officially called Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS)—will not have flying capability, little missiles, or repulsors, the feature list is still extremely impressive.

RDECOM wants TALOS to have ballistic and shock protection—using an armor that will get from flexible soft surface to hard metal solid, capable of repelling ammo when applying an electric current. Oh, and fire-retardant capability. The Army also wants the suit to "store and release energy to prevent injuries and increase performance."

And as if that wasn't impressive enough, the suit will have integrated communications, body and external sensors, and a head-up display that will give battle information graphics in real time along with night vision. It will be more Google Glass than Jarvis in this generation, but you get the idea.

Another feature for the suit is an optional attachable exoskeleton that will provide with hydraulic mechanisms to improve both strength and speed. Like the others, this technology exists already.

Would they be able to get all this integrated in just four years? It seems like a fairly reasonable goal. The technology is there or almost there already.

For example:

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are currently developing armor made from magnetorheological fluids—liquid body armor—that transforms from liquid to solid in milliseconds when a magnetic field or electrical current is applied. Though still in development, this technology will likely be submitted to support TALOS.
They just need another push—like the kind of push that the military can give it—and they will get it all integrated in a single unit. What is for sure is that, if it's not four years, it will be five or six. But not more than that. Iron Man is definitely where the US infantry is headed: soldiers turned into superheroes, superstrong and invulnerable against bullets.
 

Abhijeet Dey

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I was thinking whether Indian Army would be able to equip para commandos with this type of technology. The problem is the suit should be strong and lighter and not bulky so as to withstand repeated gunfire from AK-47.
 

W.G.Ewald

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Actually in such a suit, the actuators will do all the work, and not the muscles. So the suit will not only take care of it's own weight, but take the stress and strain of the wearer's muscles as well.

DARPA HULC is already the first step which will allow the wearer to run miles with a 70kg weight without breaking sweat.

Also, if you are basically wearing an armored car on you, you can well sacrifice a bit of reflex and swiftness... IMHO.
Here are the job descriptions with the SF Operation Detachment (ODA):

Team Members | goarmy.com

There is no way such gadgetry will help SF soldiers perform their missions.

Then again, we used to have soldiers. Now we have "operators."

SF mission should be to work with people in other countries. How are indigenous people supposed to relate to a medic dressed as Robocop, just as one example?
 

W.G.Ewald

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Mission of US Army Special Forces

The main mission of the Special Forces was to train and lead unconventional warfare (UW) forces, or a clandestine guerrilla force in an occupied nation. The Special Forces are the only U.S. Special Operations Force (SOF) trained to employ UW. The 10th Special Forces Group was the first deployed SF unit, intended to operate UW forces behind enemy lines in the event of a Warsaw Pact invasion of Western Europe. As the U.S. became involved in Southeast Asia, it was realized that specialists trained to lead guerrillas could also help defend against hostile guerrillas, so SF acquired the additional mission of Foreign Internal Defense (FID), working with Host Nation (HN) forces in a spectrum of counter-guerrilla activities from indirect support to combat command.
Not a job for Robocop.

 

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