You’ve probably heard how Berkeley Bionics, now Lockheed, is currently working on the HULC, or Human Universal Load Carrier. The HULC is a robotic exoskeleton used by soldiers on the field, and it transfers the load from the soldier’s backpack directly to the ground instead of the soldier’s back. Its main problem is that Li-on batteries tend to run out of power after a mere few hours.
Recently, Lockheed has come up with an upgrade. It’s now working on an HULC model that’s powered by fuel cells, which means it can go on for days if necessary. It’ll also have power sockets to power other electronic devices even in the middle of the battlefield.
What’s great about the HULC is that it lets soldiers carry up to 200 pounds of weight without sacrificing mobility. The upgrade should let special squadrons operate deep into enemy territory for extended missions, without worrying too much about how to lug around so much gear.
It’ll be interesting to see how the HULC and other weapons in development will turn the tide in the War on Terror. Lets hope the guys at Washington are wise enough to do their job, too.
Via: Gizmowatch
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