The first prototypes of a
high-tech suit of armor to give soldiers superhuman abilities could be
ready to test this summer, according to top military officials. The
suits, which have drawn comparisons to the one worn by Marvel Comics
superhero "Iron Man," could be delivered to special operations forces as
early as June.
The Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit,
or TALOS, is being developed by engineers at MIT; the U.S. Army
Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM); and researchers
at other businesses and academic institutions. Prototypes of the suit,
which is designed to provide protection from bullets and is equipped
with a variety of sensors and cameras, are being assembled and could be
ready for the military to test in June, reported Military.com.
The
TALOS technology will be rigorously tested, and military personnel hope
to have operational systems in the field by August 2018, according to
Navy Adm. William McRaven, head of the U.S. Special Operations Command. [See video of the military's futuristic TALOS suit]
"That
suit, if done correctly, will yield a revolutionary improvement in
survivability and capability for special operators," McRaven said at the
25th annual Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict conference
this week in Washington, D.C., according to Military.com.
The
suit includes features such as 360-degree cameras with built-in night
vision capabilities, sensors that can detect injuries and apply
wound-sealing foam, and bulletproof armor.
Eventually, the TALOS systems may include full-body exoskeletons complete with screens that display information about a soldier's surroundings, according to Military.com.
The technology could give
American soldiers a "huge comparative advantage over our enemies and
give our warriors the protection they need," McRaven said.
Government
agencies, corporations, universities and national laboratories are
collaborating on the TALOS project, and the military may explore ways to
distribute prize money as an incentive for others to get involved in
the program, McRaven said.
"We are already seeing astounding results of this collaboration," he added.
The
TALOS project began as a way to explore how technology can be used to
protect special operations officers better in combat zones. "With all
the advances in modern technology, I know we can do better," McRaven
said.
