HULC exo-skeleton ready for testing, set to hit the ground running next year (video)

Its lack of jetpacks means Heinlein's visions of future warfare have still not come to pass, but we're getting closer with word that Lockheed Martin's Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC) exoskeleton is ready for military testing. Since last we heard of the thing it's been "ruggedized" and made a little more battle-hardy, able to carry 200lbs plus its own 53lb heft without burdening the doughy soldier inside, demonstrated after the break. It supports the cargo plus its own weight through articulated rods that follow the legs to the ground, meaning grunts can haul heavy equipment to the battle and arrive feeling refreshed. Next up for the suit is eight weeks of military trials ahead of hitting the battlefield sometime next year. Hooah, future robo-jockeys.

[mopey Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:57AM]

Exo-tastic!

[Bandigolo Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:10AM]

@mopey

But can it run Crysis?

(maximum sarcasm)

[mopey Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:12AM]

@Bandigolo
No...but you feel bad @ss when you play MW2

[Ducman69 Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:14AM]

@mopey

Eh, if it were me, I'd rather they work on tech like the robo-dog to follow me around w/ supplies and ordinance, and leave me unimpeded.

[mopey Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:17AM]

@Ducman69
But that would require you to haul around robo-beggin-strips to reward your robo-dog...not a good idea.

[LiveFromThe215 Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:17AM]

@mopey
Exo-lent
(Mortal Kombat voice over dude)

[Armchaircritic Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:32AM]

@LiveFromThe215

I wanted to see the dude in the video caring a car around as if it were a book or something.

[Armchaircritic Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:33AM]

@Armchaircritic

carrying

[briguy266 Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:38AM]

@Bandigolo It cant run crysis, but it is one step closer to actually being the suit from crysis if thats any good..

[Fox Con Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:52AM]

@Obama

Bring our troops back like you said you would.

[Bandigolo Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:57AM]

@briguy266

Indeed. I think my nerd gamer joke went over some heads.

[Plazmic Flame Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:21PM]

@Bandigolo

I'm pretty sure this suit is compatible with SkyNet.

[projectkmo Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:22PM]

@mopey

But will it blend?!?!?

[One Love Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:48PM]

@mopey : it needs six-million dollar man sound effects! :)

[DrScope Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:54PM]

@mopey BEST WAY TO FIGHT is in your shorts.
Really, all that gear on American soldiers is ridicules! I can understand basic armor but the rest is over done. Look at the army's of other countries. Rolled up shirts, chest light armor and light weight guns like the M4 = easy to do your job witch is the hardest in the world as is...

[NemZero Posted Jul 21st 2010 1:18PM]

@mopey

You guys here that? .(aahhHhh)...sounds like.. (aaahhhhHH) ..the intro to Halo!? Yes!

[bjsguess Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:42PM]

@DrScope

I take it you've never been in the military before. Going lightweight is OK for some things. For others, the ability to comfortably carry an additional 75lbs of weight is a huge advantage.

[tikigawd Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:50PM]

@Bandigolo

Maximum Win

[tikigawd Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:53PM]

@DrScope

"Look at the army's of other countries."

Exactly

[rhimbu Posted Jul 21st 2010 4:16PM]

@mopey
Mantonomous sounds like a male robot stripper.

[SirNoDroin Posted Jul 21st 2010 4:21PM]

@DrScope

you can't hide behind some cover and heal in real life dude.

You should take a look at my buddy's 10lb ceramic body armor after he took one in Iraq...he was pretty happy he was wearing it (so were most of the people that knew him.)

[tu madre Posted Jul 21st 2010 4:49PM]

So...do these suits make you shoot from the hip like Tony Montana?

[moop Posted Jul 21st 2010 5:01PM]

@mopey

But the question is. 'Will it blend?' xD

P.S. Terminator, get ready to piss your pants!

[SEscobedo Posted Jul 21st 2010 6:28PM]

@Fox Con

Stop making people commit suicide

[thunderp Posted Jul 21st 2010 9:29PM]

@Ducman69
I think I'd rather have a robotic suit actually.

[Scrubs Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:58AM]

When can we get mjoinar suits?

[Slvrgun Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:01AM]

@Scrubs Mjolnir?

[strawe Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:01AM]

@Scrubs
When you learn to spell it :P

[Scrubs Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:07AM]

@strawe halo nerd or Greek mythologist I am not.

[24hourpartypal Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:28AM]

@Scrubs
MJOLNIR isn't Greek, but Norwegian. I assume you're not the smartest kid in town?

[Sponge Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:57PM]

@24hourpartypal

Mjonir isn't Norwegian, but Marvel comics.
Mjöllnir is Norwegian.

See, I can be an ass, too

[Ken J Posted Jul 21st 2010 1:21PM]

@Sponge

Mjǫllnir (also spelled Mjöllnir or Mjölner)

You certainly are

[JmHal Posted Jul 21st 2010 1:53PM]

@Ken J
but not just an ass, a dumbass.

[Smart People Play Tuba Posted Jul 21st 2010 3:32PM]

Speaking of mjolnir or however you spell it, I finally saw Iron Man 2 yesterday (i.e. the discover of said hammer after the credits).

So, is Marvel Studios going to go all Norse mythology and mysticism on us with "Thor," or are they going to de-mysitfy it (a la the "Doom" movie) in the attempt to make it more realistic and less supernatural?

What do y'all think?

[Brokinarrow Posted Jul 21st 2010 5:42PM]

@Smart People Play Tuba - I really hope they stick to the mysticism.

[Very Powerfull Codfish Posted Jul 22nd 2010 2:38AM]

@Sponge I am Norwegian, but I've NEVER heard that word. What is it?

[Scrubs Posted Jul 22nd 2010 9:44AM]

@Very Powerfull Codfish
I believe it is some god's hammer. I believe it's thor's but apperently I have a streak of being wrong. But it is also the name of the armour master chief wears in the halo series.

[Smart People Play Tuba Posted Jul 25th 2010 7:56AM]

@Very Powerfull Codfish

http://www.lmgtfy.com/?q=mjolnir

[FrancisTM Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:58AM]

Just like the equipment in STALKER.

[BlackedOut Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:56AM]

Where's Engadget's Lord Vader?

I think someone is breaching his copyright.

[mrnapalm32 Posted Jul 21st 2010 8:54PM]

@FrancisTM Just what I was thinking, except without the body armor

[Smart People Play Tuba Posted Jul 25th 2010 1:21PM]

@BlackedOut

This is closer to Iron Man than it is to Vader.

[SHFT Posted Jul 21st 2010 10:59AM]

It's time to ditchs tanks and planes, Mechas are the future!

[leigh Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:06AM]

@SHFT Mechas FTW.

[LordThree Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:24AM]

@SHFT This a joke? Ditch tanks and planes for this? O-k... Climb that hill with your goofy pack... What's it full of. ? MREs? Oh no, here come the planes... DOH

This will never be useful. If soliders weren't so expendable they'd all have bat man equipment by now...

[SHFT Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:26AM]

@LordThree

Why so serious?

[BIGGEN Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:30AM]

@LordThree
wow, you seriously took that serious?

anyway, i know a lot of soldiers and they love gadgetry. this will be no different.

[LordThree Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:39AM]

@SHFT lol

[DrVest Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:01AM]

So what happens when one of the hydraulic components fail... man down?!?

[The Shadow Posted Jul 21st 2010 11:19AM]

@DrVest You take it off?