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Richard Cochrane is trained in chemistry and metallurgy but is far more interested and practiced as a political and fund raising consultant, writer and amateur historian. He grew up in a Navy family and with his two younger brothers carried on its 500+ year tradition of naval service to Great Britain and the USA then enjoyed a career with one of the largest advertising and public relations agencies working with numerous Fortune 500 companies and many of America's premier educational institutions. He maintains friendships and acquaintanceships around the world. He lives in Santa Barbara, California.

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Sci-Fi-like Exoskeleton “Warfighter” Technology Unveiled.

April 1st, 2009 • Richard Cochrane
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hulcLockheed Martin debuted an advanced robotic exoskeleton that augments a soldiers’ strength and endurance preventing their premature fatigue. In effect it is a step toward a co-called super-soldier but it also has industrial and medical potential.

 Not long ago the Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) exoskeleton, introduced at the Association of the United States’ Army Winter Symposium in Fort Lauderdale, FL, laast month was science fiction. Now HULC the Army says will meet future mobility and sustainment needs of Warfighters by providing strength and survivability.

Under an exclusive licensing agreement with Berkeley BionicsTM, a world leader in exoskeleton technologies, Lockheed Martin will advance the development of the HULC design to provide Soldiers a powerful advantage in ground operations.

“With our enhancements to the HULC system, Soldiers will be able to carry loads up to 200 pounds with minimal effort,” said Rich Russell, director of Sensors, Data Links and Advanced Programs at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.

“Lockheed Martin is developing an entire line of ground Soldier technologies that will improve Warfighters’ ability to effectively complete their missions.”

Dismounted Soldiers often carry heavy combat loads that increase stress on the body, leading to injuries and exhaustion. HULC transfers the weight from heavy loads to the ground through the battery-powered, titanium legs of the lower-body exoskeleton.

An advanced onboard micro-computer ensures the exoskeleton moves in concert with the individual. HULC’s completely un-tethered, hydraulic-powered anthropomorphic exoskeleton design allows for deep squats, crawls and upper-body lifting with minor exertion.

Lockheed Martin’s advanced technology systems will now include ground Soldier solutions such as wearable situational awareness equipment and mobility assistance systems. Additional technological advancements will focus on specific user needs and performance requirements. Lockheed Martin is also exploring exoskeleton designs to support industrial and medical applications.

Critics of anything military or for that matter American have only nibbled the edgesof these ideas testing thems like: cyborga, implanted micro chips and all sorts of sinister ideas which are not part of the technology. The more rational point to adapting the gadgets to allow spinal cord injured and other impaired people walk.

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