Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
"The whole problem of energy sources is going to be solved by little solutions, not by some big new piece of technology that does everything. We got into this crisis by believing that we had one big piece of technology that would do everything (oil)."
- Gregory Benford
 |
| Powered Armor (or Powered Suit) | ||
| An armored suit that magnifies the power of the soldier's muscles, along with other weapons. |
How can you fight alien bugs with superior strength and agility, not to mention a tough exoskeleton. Why, with your own powered "exoskeleton," of course.
| Our suits give us better eyes, better ears, stronger backs (to carry heavier weapons and more ammo), better legs, more intelligence (in the military meaning...), more firepower, greater endurance, less vulnerability.
 (Power Suit from 'Starship Troopers' by Robert Heinlein) A suit isn't a space suit - although it can serve as one. it is not primarily armor - although the Knights of the Round Table were not armored as well as we are. It isn't a tank - but a single M.I. [Mobile Infantry] private could take on a squadron of those things and knock them off unassisted... ...Suited up, you look like a big steel gorilla, armed with gorilla-sized weapons. The real genius in the design is that you don't have to control the suit; you just wear it, like your clothes, like skin. The secret lies in negative feedback and amplification. |
| Technovelgy from Starship Troopers,
by Robert Heinlein. Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in 1959 Additional resources -
|
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is soliciting innovative research proposals on Exoskeletons for Human Performance Augmentation (EHPA). The overall goal of this program is to develop devices and machines that will increase the speed, strength, and endurance of soldiers in combat environments. Projects will lead to self-powered, controllable, wearable exoskeletal devices and/or machines.
Heinlein borrowed and expanded on the idea of self-powered space armor from E.E. "Doc" Smith's novels of the late 1930's. I think that the specific idea of controlling it with negative feedback from the wearer's own movements is Heinlein's.
Also, note that the powered suit has a heads-up display.
Here's how it works, minus the diagrams. The inside of the suit is a mass of pressure receptors, hundreds of them. You push with the heel of your hand; the suit feels it, amplifies it, pushes with you to take the pressure off the receptors that gave the order to push.
You're a bit late to make the deadline, but here is the request for proposals from DARPA for EXOSKELETONS FOR HUMAN PERFORMANCE AUGMENTATION (EHPA):
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE AND DESCRIPTION:
Comment/Join this discussion ( 12 ) | RSS/XML | Blog This |
Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Starship Troopers
More Ideas
and Technology by Robert Heinlein
Tech news articles related to Starship Troopers
Tech news articles related to works by Robert Heinlein
Powered Armor (or Powered Suit)-related
news articles:
- DARPA Wants Exoskeletons
- HAL-5 Robot Suit
- HAL Robotic Suit Ready For Production
- Power Pedal Exoskeleton From Matsushita
- Sarcos Exoskeleton Video
- Human Universal Load Carrier Exoskeleton From Berkeley Bionics
- Robotic Suit For Farmers In Japan
- Warrior Web Exoskeleton For Soldiers Undergoes Tests
- Korea's Avatar Robot
- TALOS Exoskeleton Development Proceeding
- Russia Working On Military Exoskeletons
- 'Power Clothing' - The Seismic 'Super Suit'
- ROAM Robotics Skiing Exoskeleton
- 'Warrior Suit' Combat Exoskeleton Project Still Alive
| Liquid Body Armor For TALOS Exoskeleton |
| DIY Taser-Proof Clothing |
| Look Great In Your Garrison Bespoke Bulletproof Suit |
| Bionic Body Armor Makes You Dodge Bullets |
Want to Contribute an
Item?
It's easy:
Get the name of the item, a
quote, the book's name and the author's name, and Add
it here.
| <Previous | Next> |
|
|
|
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Science Fiction Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
|
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
'...the combined Wind-Suncatcher, like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.'
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.'
'It was a smooth ovoid floating a few inches from the floor...'
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.'
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.'
