From Aliens to Avatar, Hollywood movies have long fueled the exoskeleton fantasy. In real life, the idea has come somewhat close to actual production, but the world is still leaps away from seeing fleets of machine-clad soldiers barreling down the battlefield.
But a recent partnership between Lockheed Martin and the US Navy brings a new use case to the exoskeleton fray. Lockheed has secured a contract through the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences for the US Navy to evaluate and test two FORTIS exoskeletons, which are unpowered versions of the suit that could be used to ease the strain on Navy shipbuilders.
The FORTIS exoskeleton is designed to increase an operator's strength and endurance by transferring the weight of heavy loads away from the their body and directly to the ground, sparing an operator’s muscles and allowing them to work longer with reduced overall fatigue.
"Ship maintenance often requires use of heavy tools, such as grinders, riveters or sandblasters," Adam Miller, director of new initiatives at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said in a statement. "Those tools take a toll on operators due to the tools’ weight and the tight areas where they are sometimes used. By wearing the FORTIS exoskeleton, operators can hold the weight of those heavy tools for extended periods of time with reduced fatigue."
link.
No comments:
Post a Comment