Significant progress has been made in developing exoskeletons for the US Special Forces. Exoskeletons are designed to increase the strength and protection of soldiers. Also, exoskeletons can help preserve the strength and health of a person dressed in a suit (an exoskeleton operator), for example, when knocking down doors or participating in an armed clash."
The project under development includes:
- suit - exoskeleton
- systems that increase strength and strength
- additional protection
Promotional video:
Liquid Piston high efficiency motor
Liquid Piston is developing several small rotary internal combustion engines running on "High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle" (HEHC). The cycle combines high compression ratio (CR), constant volume combustion (isochoric combustion) and overexpansion. The new engine is based on the first law of thermodynamics. The theoretical efficiency of the engine is 75 percent. The innovative design of the rotary motor achieves a potential efficiency of 60 percent and a shaft efficiency of over 50 percent. Since this engine is not equipped with poppet valves and the gas is fully expanded before the exhaust stroke, the engine can run quietly. By analogy with the Wankel rotary engine, the "X" engine has only two main moving parts - the shaft and the rotor,which allows you to achieve a compact size of the motor, as well as low vibration during operation. But unlike the Wankel engine, the “X” motor is designed to run on the “High Efficiency Hybrid Cycle”, which is associated with its efficiency and low noise level. The result of this work is a fuel efficient, compact, lightweight and quiet engine with low vibration.
Specifications:
- high power density - up to 2 horsepower
- 30% smaller and lighter for spark ignition petrol engines (SI)
- up to 75% smaller and lighter for diesel engines with compression ignition (CI)
In exoskeletons, motors will only be used to recharge batteries.
Liquid armor
Some of the potential technologies being developed for the TALOS exoskeletons were announced in a statement from the US Department of Defense's General Directorate of Special Forces (SOCOM):
- improved armor
- command and control computers
- power generators
-increased mobility of exoskeletons
According to preliminary estimates, the cost of the TALOS program is $ 80 million.
TALOS exoskeletons will be equipped with a physiological subsystem equipped with sensors to monitor overall body temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, body position, and hydration level.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientists and Polish developers are working on the creation of "liquid body armor"
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are developing the next generation of armor called "liquid body armor."
"Liquid body armor" under the action of a magnetic field or an electric current in milliseconds passes from a liquid state to a solid state.
Scientists at a Polish body armor company are working on a body armor based on a non-Newtonian fluid.
The fluid is called Shear-Thickening Fluid (STF). STF does not fit into the category of Newtonian fluids such as water, where the force required to move the fluid must increase exponentially and the resistance to flow changes with temperature. In contrast, STF solidifies on impact regardless of temperature, providing protection against the penetration of high-velocity projectiles and dispersing the impact of the impact over a large area.
The exact composition of STF is known only to the Moratex Institute and to inventors from the Military Institute of Weapons Technology in Warsaw. Ballistic tests have already proven the STF's resistance to a wide range of projectiles.
“We needed to find and develop a fluid that can stop a bullet traveling at 450 m / sec. and higher. We succeeded,”said Marcin Struzczyk, deputy director for research at Moratex Institute.
Sharuzchik said that, compared to traditional Kevlar-based protection, the fluid's ability to stop impact, combined with less surface deformation upon impact, provides a higher level of safety for humans.
“If a traditional bulletproof vest is attached to the body, then a 4-centimeter indentation of the vest on impact can lead to injuries to the sternum, fracture of the sternum, myocardial infarction and fatal damage to the spleen,” stressed Struzchik.
"Thanks to the properties of the fluid and the special inserts, we have reduced this threat by 100 percent - we have reduced the indentation depth from four centimeters to one."
Upon impact of a high-velocity projectile, a large area of STF instantly solidifies, as a result of which the huge energy from the impact is dispersed far from the internal organs of the person.
To install liquid in a bulletproof vest, the development of special inserts is required. However, the company assures that they will be lighter and provide a wider range of motion for police and army officers than standard inserts.
The lab is also working to create a magnetorheological fluid, which the scientists also hope to use in their designs.
According to the researchers, both fluids, in addition to being used in body armor, can be used in the production of professional sports inserts, and even whole suits. They can also be used for car bumpers or road safety barriers.
