US looks to create robo-soldier

news.bbc.co.uk ^ | 10 April, 2002 | By Jane Wakefield

[It'salmosttolate]

US looks to create robo-soldier{WELCOME TO THE NWO}

Today's soldiers carry tons of equipment

By Jane Wakefield
BBC News Online technology staff

The soldier of the future could be able to leap buildings, heal his own wounds, deflect bullets and become invisible.

These are just some of the futuristic plans of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology which has been selected by the US army to create the battlefield equivalent of Robocop.

The $50m research centre will be known as the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN).

Among the goals of the newly-created ISN will be gadgets that can heal soldiers, uniforms that are nearly invisible and clothing that can become a rigid cast when a soldier breaks his or her leg.

An exoskeleton could be developed to provide protection from bullets, transform into a medical cast and even activate an offensive weapon.

Shoes with built-in power packs could release bursts of energy to endow the soldier with super-strength and agility.

With a nod to the durability of medieval armour, the institute will also develop a futuristic light-weight chain mail, made up of molecular materials.

Psychological warfare

The soldier of the future will not only be protected, but present a greater threat to the enemy said director of the ISN Professor Ned Thomas.

"Imagine the psychological impact upon a foe when encountering squads of seemingly invincible warriors, protected by armour and endowed with superhuman capabilities, such as the ability to leap over 20-foot walls," he said.

The ISN will be staffed by 150 people, including 35 MIT professors, 80 graduate students as well as specialists from the army.

Reducing weight

The research group will focus on six key areas:

threat detection
threat neutralisation such as bullet-proof
clothing
concealment
enhanced human performance,
real-time automated medical treatment
reducing the weight of equipment from
today's 145-pound loads to the 45
pounds carried by Roman soldiers

MIT already has a history of helping out the army in times of war.

During World War II, large-scale research at MIT's Radiation Laboratory was devoted to the rapid development of microwave radar.

The lab designed almost half of the radar deployed in World War II, created over 100 different radar systems, and constructed $1.5 billion worth of radar.

And at the time of the Cold War, the university developed guidance systems for missiles.

Many of the technologies being developed at MIT for the soldier of the future will not be available for at least a decade.

[It'salmosttolate]

A question. Why do we have to learn about these stories in th FOREIGN PRESS?

...AND WHY IS IT USUALLLY BRITIAN?

[JenB]

Are they talking about powersuits, like the kind Heinlein used in Starship Troopers? It's hard for me to tell whether that's what this is, but I've always wondered when they'd start making them.

[zandtar]

Until a cheap, EMP weapon is created. By-by electronic advantage.

[RogueIsland]

I hope this doesn't mean that all future wars will have to follow weird, stream of conciousness Anime plots, where all of our soldiers will be blonde schoolgirls, young motorcycle-riding rebels with attitude problems, scientists with dark secrets, or overweight bumblers along for the comic relief.

[Joe Brower]

[general_re]

Cool. "Real life" finally catches up to "Half-Life" - the HEV Mark 4 comes to life ;)

[FormerRep]

"Half-life" is still one of the best games ever made.

[fourdeuce82d]

Why do we have to learn about these stories in th FOREIGN PRESS?

Because we don't read the american press? This story has been out for months & months.

[It'salmosttolate]

"This story has been out for months & months." ---Give US some links to the stories.

Most people on a conservative site like FR know the media is not our friends.

Did you post a story like this at some time? What's the link?

[xp38]

Skynet is a little behind schedule but I'm sure is waiting in the wings out there somewhere. :)

[Mike-o-Matic]

   Until a cheap, EMP weapon is created.

Have a look at this article ... so much for "until"!!

[Mike-o-Matic]

   ... or overweight bumblers along for the comic relief.

Hey buddy... I resemble that remark... ;-)

[grebu]

I don't have the link but I read this story at weeks ago, maybe over a month, off of Yahoo and maybe Popular Science or something like that.

[grebu]

I found it on March 20 at an MIT site, linked off drudge originally

http://www.techreview.com/articles/wo_leo032002.asp

[knews_hound]

Ever play the Day of Defeat Mod for Half Life?

The very best one IMHO.

Cheers,

knews hound

[It'salmosttolate]

That's not EXACTLY the AmeriKan press.

[The Scorpion King]

"A question. Why do we have to learn about these stories in th FOREIGN PRESS?"

"...AND WHY IS IT USUALLLY BRITIAN?"

If you'll look at a photo of Prince Charles I think you might answer your own question. Check out the ears. How many more Brits are there like him do you suppose?

[Free the USA]

Check the Bump List folders for articles related to and descriptions of the above topic(s) or for other topics of interest.

[lds23]

Actually, I would expect a lot of micro-bots would be an effective tool, too. Imagine reconnaisance moths, cave-infiltrating roach-targeters, etc.

[finnman69]