Kevin Samson
It’s been a longtime dream of DARPA to grace the battlefield with super soldiers. Back in 2010, a plan was announced to install transcranial ultrasonic mind control devices into soldiers’ helmets in order to boost alertness, as well as relieve battle stress and pain.
The Department of Defense has also been working on their ultimate augmented reality creation called iOptik, which would enhance a soldier’s biology by offering simultaneous fields of vision, while enabling full data integration. These developments are running simultaneously alongside weaponized military robots, humanoid and life-like battlebots as troops and/or field assistance, and autonomous systems of full-spectrum warfare that incorporate drones.
However, nothing compares to the T.A.L.O.S. suit seen in the videos and press release below. Advancements in nanotech are offering a new range of materials and applications that are quickly turning science fiction to science fact. The T.A.L.O.S. super soldier will incorporate biometrics, advanced body armor that will change a liquid to bullet-proof solid skin, an exoskeleton for improved strength and speed, as well as the latest in augmented reality computing. The full merger of man and machine is well underway. According to MIT, all that’s needed is a power source. Coming soon…
PR – USSOCOM Seeks Ideas for Advanced Assault Suit Development
Tampa, Fla.–U.S. Special Operations Command issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for proposals and research in support of the development of Tactical Light Operator Suit (TALOS) TALOS is a USSOCOM effort to provide special operation forces (SOF) with enhanced mobility and protection technologies in a fully integrated assault suit. Some of the potential technologies planned for TALOS research and development include advanced armor, command and control computers, power generators, and enhanced mobility exoskeletons.
“USSOCOM is interested in receiving white papers from a wide variety of sources, not just traditional military industry but also from academia, entrepreneurs, and laboratories capable of providing the design, construction, and testing of TALOS related technologies,” said Jim Geurts, USOCOM acquisition executive. “The intent is to accelerate the delivery of innovative TALOS capabilities to the SOF operator.”
The BAA goal is to foster collaboration with government, academia, and industry representatives on the TALOS effort. Prior studies and analysis have determined a number of technical challenges exist for the SOF equipment that require improvements for missions into the future. Those challenges include trade space between weight, protection, power, and mobility, cost, and system component integration.
BAA will remain open until September 3, 2014.
For more information on the the TALOS BAA, go to:
https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportuni… .
To talk to USSOCOM Public Affairs office about TALOS, please call 813-826-1350 or
813-826-4600.
H/T: Interesting Engineering
The Military Invisabie Cloaking for Soldiers:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7J3kJ5Ae3A