Raytheon develops Iron Man-like robotic suit
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Defense contractor Raytheon Co. recently showed off its exoskeleton robotic suit that’s under development and it appears to be torn from the pages of one of the ‘Iron Man’ movie scripts.
The suit, dubbed the XOS 2, gives a soldier the power of two or three men, the company said. It’s powered by high-pressure hydraulics and built from a combination of structures, sensors and actuators.
Basically, the XOS 2 does all the lifting for a person that wears it by reducing the strain and exertion it takes to lift heavy objects. Raytheon envisions military personnel using the technology to unload heavy cargo and move around supplies.
The video above shows the suit in action, complete with weight lifting and push-up shots. It also features actor Clark Gregg, who plays Agent Phil Coulson in the ‘Iron Man’ films. The video coincides with the release of ‘Iron Man 2’ on DVD.
The Watham, Mass., company unveiled the XOS 2 for the first time during an event at the company’s Salt Lake City research facility. The XOS 2 is the second generation of the suit. The company says it’s lighter, stronger and faster than its predecessor.
But unlike Tony Stark’s suit in the ‘Iron Man’ films, there don’t seem to be any plans to build repulsor rays into the palms of the XOS 2’s gloves. Bummer.
-- W.J. Hennigan
