As the imagination of combat capabilities like those of Iron Man or Starship Troopers continues to fascinate the military, no army has yet fielded a "Human Augmentation Exoskeletons" for fighters, despite over two decades of research and development. In this blog post, I’ll share my experiences, particularly from two field tests I conducted with the Swiss special forces.
While the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) made incremental advances in military exoskeleton research in the early 2000s (e.g., the Sarcos full-body powered exoskeleton prototype), the most recent concerted effort to develop a suit of powered armor came in 2013 with U.S. Special Operations Command’s (USSOCOM) Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit (TALOS). TALOS was envisioned as a combat armor suit that combined an exoskeleton with advanced armor, displays for power and health monitoring, and an integrated weapon system.
My interest in TALOS, and particularly in the "Human Augmentation Exoskeleton" for fighters, began in 2014. During an armasuisse Science and Technology (S+T) DEFTECH conference on exoskeletons in June 2014, I proposed conducting practical tests with a powered exoskeleton as part of their "Human Augmentation" program, which was a component of the broader research initiative "Technology Foresight". Finally, in October 2015, I conducted the first trial with the PROWLER "Human Augmentation Full Body Exoskeleton" from Revision Military Ltd., which was developed for the TALOS program.
The trial aimed to:
Assess the current state of technology of the "Full Body Exoskeleton" in practical scenarios.
Understand the impact of the "Full Body Exoskeleton" on soldiers and their capabilities.
Determine its added value for military operations and identify which capabilities are influenced by its use.
The trial was conducted with special forces soldiers and included the following practical exercises, performed both with and without the "Full Body Exoskeleton":
Oxygen consumption measurement (and energy consumption calculation) while walking and running on a treadmill with 20kg and 25kg backpacks.
March with elevation differences (walking uphill and downhill) while carrying a 40kg backpack.
2.2 km combat run with full combat equipment.
Rescue tasks, including pulling a rescue sledge, carrying a stretcher, and performing a fireman’s carry.
Obstacle course.
Fighting in built-up areas (FIBUA): urban combat parcours and live-fire exercises.
The results were promising, demonstrating that the powered leg exoskeleton significantly reduces the burden on soldiers when carrying heavy loads, particularly in mountainous or challenging terrain. Additionally, it proved highly effective for tasks such as pulling sledges or carrying patients. The most surprising finding, however, was the excellent ergonomics of the powered leg exoskeleton, which caused only minimal and negligible disturbances during use.
In June 2019, USSOCOM acknowledged the challenges of producing an Iron Man-style armor for operators and officially shut down the $80 million TALOS program. However, the organization planned to invest an additional $16 million in fielding associated technologies for combat units under the “Hyper-Enabled Operator” (HEO) initiative: "Under the HEO umbrella, SOCOM leaders envision pushing cloud-based computing down to individual operators using secure communication links, using augmented reality projected on a heads-up display in the helmet, and small ankle and knee exoskeletons that can be quickly removed to lessen the load."
In October 2019, the Chief of the Planning Directorate approved my request to conduct a second troop trial with the Special Forces Command, using both a passive (full-body) and a powered (active) leg-exoskeleton.
The aim of the trial was to:
Evaluate the status of the technology in practical use as of 2021.
Assess the physical advantages and added value of both systems and define their primary deployment scenarios.
Examine the ergonomics and limitations of both systems.
Gauge and promote acceptance of the systems among the troops.
This time, the trial included 20 exercises, many of which were similar to those from the first trial (e.g., marching with a heavy backpack, running with combat equipment, stretcher carrying, shooting, and FIBUA). However, new exercises were also introduced, such as timing for putting on and removing the exoskeleton, assessing packing volume, fast rope descent, and use in vehicles. Based on the insights from the first trial, the comparative exercises without the exoskeleton were conducted preliminarily to allow for adequate rest.
The results with the powered leg exoskeleton were consistent with those of the previous trial, demonstrating a significant reduction in the burden on soldiers when carrying heavy loads, particularly in mountainous or challenging terrain. Additionally, the exoskeleton’s excellent ergonomics caused only minimal and negligible disturbances during use.
The results with the full-body passive exoskeleton, however, were disappointing. Although it provided support to the body (knees, hips, back, and shoulders) and improved stability, it significantly restricted mobility in many activities, such as foot placement on uneven terrain, FIBUA, ladder climbing, shooting, and fast rope descents. Additionally, it required hours for adjustments and produced a loud metallic rattle during use.
My trials essentially confirmed what USSOCOM highlighted when they launched their "Hyper-Enabled Operator" initiative: the value of small ankle and knee exoskeletons that can be quickly removed to reduce the load. Powered leg exoskeletons, such as B-temia S-KRD or Bionic Power Amplify, demonstrate a high Technological Readiness Level (TRL). They are portable, easy to don and remove in the field, and provide a tangible advantage in reducing the burden of heavy loads during marches. These products have the potential to be fielded within this decade.
Although several armies have recently conducted trials and “proof of concept” tests with exoskeletons, these efforts have primarily focused on logistical tasks and specific activities, such as hauling artillery shells (e.g., the Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM)), rather than infantry-style combat tasks. A critical factor for the successful adoption of exoskeletons by combat troops will be their acceptance by soldiers. Significant efforts must be made in this area before broader implementation becomes feasible.
I remain optimistic about the potential of exoskeletons for fighters, but the path forward will be gradual. A futuristic suit of combat armor, like something out of Iron Man or Starship Troopers, is unlikely to materialize anytime soon.
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