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.

[toddw Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:20PM]

This is really cool, but it reminds me of the episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia where the gang has to win a dance marathon to keep the bar. The Rickity Cricket character shows up wearing some hydraulic exoskeleton. His failed, so let's hope this one works a bit better.

[dhill0413 Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:41PM]

this is replacing my 'Lightweight' perk

[jedifaka Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:43PM]

How much of a stretch to imagine your cherry LT, safely overwatching your ass from the rear via UAV, pushing your joystick forward when really you thought a "tactical pause," was called for?

Think of all the valor medals this invention could generate!

[bingster Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:45PM]

yeah, i can just imagine being stuck in the afghan mountains with the HULC all jammed up, with 10 afghans pointing with their AK47´s at me, all cracking up over my metal legs.

[ClosetNerd Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:53PM]

Does it have an antenna..... :)

[lawl Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:55PM]

This is a joke. There are soldiers in Afghanistan right now without body armor. Their family has to send them proper equipment. Why would the military spend this much on soldiers who are seen as expendable?? These suits would go to a very limited few who would run special operations.

[sharkync Posted Jul 21st 2010 12:59PM]

If this allows soldiers to run really fast,
the French are going to be all over it.

[Daru Posted Jul 21st 2010 1:10PM]

Would these just be load-bearing, or could they sense, for example, jumps or kicks and provide extra aid in those actions?

[bingster Posted Jul 21st 2010 1:28PM]

@Daru

Sure, you would become the dominator. Kicking ass right and left... kiaaaaaaaaa.

[TheHoldSteady Posted Jul 21st 2010 1:30PM]

The now commonplace occurence of every military project or congressional bill sporting a moronic, word-ish acronym is a clear sign of the approaching Idiocracy.

[JmHal Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:00PM]

@TheHoldSteady
Well how else do you expect our Senators and Congressmen to comprehend these things. Also since they don't actually read any of the bills they can simply took at the acronym to find out what the bill is.
Aide: "Senator, SBXXXX is up for vote, the one about military exoskeleton funding"
Senator: "Bill what?, exo-what?"
Aide: "You know, the Hulk suit"
Senator: "Oh yeah, i like hulk smash"

[Stone632 Posted Jul 21st 2010 1:52PM]

dude

when are where can i buy one. im gonna own all my friends at football

[nicklar Posted Jul 21st 2010 1:54PM]

So, if I have to dive on the ground due to enemy fire, how is that going to help me, with an extra 250lbs to lift up? I feel like I'd be like an overturned turtle, waiting to get shot.

[Blaque14K Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:05PM]

Now they can carry rail guns and the heavy batteries needed to fire them lol.

[pdftech Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:38PM]

I wonder if this technology would be useful for civilians who have difficulty walking like those with muscular dystrophy.

[Torch Red Posted Jul 21st 2010 2:59PM]

Now they can carry more than 2 weapons. For example: a pistol, shot gun, machine gun, sniper rifle, nail gun, grenade launcher, freeze- and shrink-ray, and a BFG 9000.

[SirNoDroin Posted Jul 21st 2010 4:23PM]

@Torch Red dude, your totally mixing games up, in Duke 3d (were most of your list is from) the top tier gun was the Devastators

[Al Jeffers Posted Jul 21st 2010 3:03PM]

Choices:

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11157653.html

[HKCally Posted Jul 21st 2010 3:36PM]

It can carry 200lb? How about you carry no cargo and let this thing carry your fat GI ass into/out of combat?
Is 200lb maximum enough? :-)

[Sniggih Posted Jul 21st 2010 3:36PM]

Maan, I was born with an Exoskeleton carrying the weight called LIFE in NYC. ): lol

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

I'm pretty sure students carry more weight than these soldiers.

[JayQ330 Posted Jul 21st 2010 5:28PM]

how about making less expensive versions for civilians that never could or cant walk anymore? grandpa carrying his grandson or maybe just because i work with heavy loads? nah we rather use it to kill people & put our citizens to war. okay.

[pleasantcrew Posted Jul 21st 2010 5:30PM]

i can imagine the amount of people joining the military just because this new tech

[Gifted Posted Jul 21st 2010 5:34PM]

where was this when I was going to school

[hermyhalloween Posted Jul 21st 2010 6:52PM]

for all the harm the militaries do, at least they advance technology.

[Shlooky Posted Jul 21st 2010 6:58PM]

Cover it with hot rod red metal, add a few repulsers and an arc reactor and you've got an Iron Man suite read to rock!

[spacemonkey086 Posted Jul 22nd 2010 12:57AM]

more like 'metal bar on leg' rather than exoskeleton.

[Andrew5000 Posted Jul 23rd 2010 7:16AM]

They could have used "We are the robots" from Kraftwerk as their soundtrack on this one.