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2013/11/04 20:00:42
Subject: Real world power armor -- US Special Operations Command actually wants to build it...
...and it's so ludicrously difficult SOCOM's basically launching a media campaign saying, "hey, any geniuses out there, a little help please"?
SOCOM Wants YOU To Help Build High-Tech ‘Iron Man’ Armor
Spoiler:
US special operators are notoriously low-profile “silent professionals.” But lately the Internet’s been abuzz over Special Operations Command’s effort to build a high-tech suit of bulletproof armor – TALOS, the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit – that the normally understated chief of SOCOM, Adm. William McRaven, actually compared to the metal-clad superhero Iron Man.
Make no mistake: This is no mistake. SOCOM is deliberately drumming up the hype because TALOS is the one thing they’re doing that they actually want everyone to hear about. It’s a conscious effort to get the word out to innovators in industry, academe, and even high schools who might otherwise have never thought of working with SOCOM. Why? Because without their help, TALOS is doomed to fail.
TALOS’s goals stretch the art of the possible to the breaking point. By contrast, the regular Army is moving steadily forward with incremental improvements to existing body armor – which is already way ahead of the protection troops had ten years ago – and intends to field a “Soldier Protection System” at least 10 percent lighter than current suits by 2016. But SOCOM wants to leap ahead to a bulletproof suit so heavy that a human could hardly move in it without a strength-enhancing mechanism called an exoskeleton – and it wants a functioning “proof of concept” prototype by 2018.
“The media frenzy that you’re talking about, that’s by design,” said Michael Fieldson, the SOCOM civilian who’s in charge of TALOS. “We want to get out there because this is a very challenging problem,” he told me. “You might not get there if you stuck to the traditional approach.”....
Click here for full story including some snazzy concept video and some less snazzy but more substantive video of SOCOM chief Adm. William McRaven saying why this is a personal priority.
BURN IT DOWN BURN IT DOWN BABY BURN IT DOWN
Psienesis wrote: Well, if you check out Sister Sydney's homebrew/expansion rules, you'll find all kinds of units the Sisters could have, that fit with the theme of the Sisters (as a tabletop army) perfectly well, and are damn-near-perfectly balanced.
Anyway, yeah, this is one of those things that's been punted around for a while now. I think it has to happen, eventually. There's not really a better technological advantage path available for infantry.
2013/11/04 20:12:23
Subject: Re:Real world power armor -- US Special Operations Command actually wants to build it...
Yes, there's a whole history of horribly unsuccessful efforts to build futuristic full-body armor, powered or otherwise. DARPA and the Army have struggled in vain for years. But this is SOCOM, which is normally pretty pragmatic.
BURN IT DOWN BURN IT DOWN BABY BURN IT DOWN
Psienesis wrote: Well, if you check out Sister Sydney's homebrew/expansion rules, you'll find all kinds of units the Sisters could have, that fit with the theme of the Sisters (as a tabletop army) perfectly well, and are damn-near-perfectly balanced.
If you can get them back to like the knights of old before the long bow or crossbow made slow moving heavy armor redundant: all the "power" to them.
They are already trying to address the heavy pack they need to carry so the power assist armor is a reasonable direction to go or failing that go with the robotic mule they got.
Heck, if you can reduce the desert heat, cold or humidity combat effectiveness could be upped if added gear does not overload them.
Just being able to load the humvee kit of the "gunslinger" for locating shooters would be worth it kitting out just one squad mate with a large tubed weapon.
It will be a reality, having it fly may take a while however.
A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
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2013/11/04 20:33:45
Subject: Real world power armor -- US Special Operations Command actually wants to build it...
How many of those 70-90 operations do you ever hear about? That's what I mean by "low profile."
BURN IT DOWN BURN IT DOWN BABY BURN IT DOWN
Psienesis wrote: Well, if you check out Sister Sydney's homebrew/expansion rules, you'll find all kinds of units the Sisters could have, that fit with the theme of the Sisters (as a tabletop army) perfectly well, and are damn-near-perfectly balanced.
Talizvar wrote: It will be a reality, having it fly may take a while however.
No.
Flight is reserved for a more rarefied form of warrior.
Hmmm...
The army can have helecopters and drones.
Let me guess, to meet some strange arrangement with the air-force they get to fire jets to "jump" and then use wings to "fall with style".
Come to think of it, armored dudes that can glide into the enemy would be rather terrifying.
A revolution is an idea which has found its bayonets.
Napoleon Bonaparte
2013/11/04 21:34:06
Subject: Real world power armor -- US Special Operations Command actually wants to build it...
SisterSydney wrote: On any day of the year you will find special operations forces [in] somewhere between 70 and 90 countries around the world.[/url] - Adm. William McRaven, commander, SOCOM.
How many of those 70-90 operations do you ever hear about? That's what I mean by "low profile."
I've met McRaven a couple times now, I believe. He's a cool guy. But why he's letting NSW run around starring in movies, writing books, speaking out on politics, and all the rest, I'll never know.
But yeah, by and large, you're absolutely right. I just find the sudden swerve towards Hollywood SEALs perplexing.
2013/11/05 12:12:54
Subject: Real world power armor -- US Special Operations Command actually wants to build it...
True that SEALs are getting way more publicity. Not sure how much of that is SOCOM publicity strategy vs indiscipline among the former operators. Either way it's an exception to the culture.
When and where did you meet McRaven? Are you military or ex- yourself?
BURN IT DOWN BURN IT DOWN BABY BURN IT DOWN
Psienesis wrote: Well, if you check out Sister Sydney's homebrew/expansion rules, you'll find all kinds of units the Sisters could have, that fit with the theme of the Sisters (as a tabletop army) perfectly well, and are damn-near-perfectly balanced.
SisterSydney wrote: True that SEALs are getting way more publicity. Not sure how much of that is SOCOM publicity strategy vs indiscipline among the former operators. Either way it's an exception to the culture.
When and where did you meet McRaven? Are you military or ex- yourself?
Indeed. Navy, though not anymore. I met him about a year ago during the course of my current private sector job.
Stuff like Act of Valor had to get approved high up the chain, so somewhere up there, somebody thinks it's a good idea for NSW to be all over the media. I can sort of understand why they'd publicize the power armor stuff, because they need someone to come up with a way to make it work, but the rest I just scratch my head about.
2013/11/05 12:34:11
Subject: Real world power armor -- US Special Operations Command actually wants to build it...
I read about working exo-suits already being used in factories in Japan. Surely, the hard work is in the development of the motor-systems, articulation and power. If those have already been cracked, surely the technology is most of the way there already?
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Those Japanese suits are probably still running on cords plugged into the wall.
As has been said countless times, the only thing holding something like this back is a decent battery. Our modern batteries are not light enough to be practical in powering a man-sized suit for any amount of time to be worthwhile in a combat situation.
If we can get a battery that weights no more than 50-60 pounds that can power an armored exo-suit for 1-2 hours they'll be practical, if still expensive.
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Pacific wrote: I read about working exo-suits already being used in factories in Japan. Surely, the hard work is in the development of the motor-systems, articulation and power. If those have already been cracked, surely the technology is most of the way there already?
Don't know about the Japanese suits you mention, but all the exoskeletons I've seen video of are horribly clunky. What works on a loading dock will NOT do on a battlefield where (WH40K aside) even power armored troops need to be able to take cover.
BURN IT DOWN BURN IT DOWN BABY BURN IT DOWN
Psienesis wrote: Well, if you check out Sister Sydney's homebrew/expansion rules, you'll find all kinds of units the Sisters could have, that fit with the theme of the Sisters (as a tabletop army) perfectly well, and are damn-near-perfectly balanced.
Senden wrote: Admittedly most of that unit never said a word
Some of the ones that did have more than made up for the others though
Automatically Appended Next Post:
Grey Templar wrote: Those Japanese suits are probably still running on cords plugged into the wall.
As has been said countless times, the only thing holding something like this back is a decent battery. Our modern batteries are not light enough to be practical in powering a man-sized suit for any amount of time to be worthwhile in a combat situation.
If we can get a battery that weights no more than 50-60 pounds that can power an armored exo-suit for 1-2 hours they'll be practical, if still expensive.
LordofHats wrote: Not really sure a 1-2 hour operating period is enough to make them practical for the military. other than that yeah totally XD
Lets get on with the power armor thing. Then we can start developing shoulder carried nukes and we're two steps closer to Mobile Infantry
I believe that the article in the OP mentioned using the energy from the operator's movement to generate power
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2013/11/06 14:00:26
2013/11/06 14:04:09
Subject: Re:Real world power armor -- US Special Operations Command actually wants to build it...
Makes sense. It's the next step forward. Though I would have put it more for our regular infantry than SOCOM. But then again I'm much more aware of the weight load the average infantry grunt carries than a SOCOM member. And even that knowledge is second hand.
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2013/11/06 16:49:14
Subject: Real world power armor -- US Special Operations Command actually wants to build it...
Hulksmash wrote: Makes sense. It's the next step forward. Though I would have put it more for our regular infantry than SOCOM. But then again I'm much more aware of the weight load the average infantry grunt carries than a SOCOM member. And even that knowledge is second hand.
I can understand why SOCOM may be trialing it. For Special Operations it is a significant force multiplier - operators can now bring more equipment, ammunition, heavier weapons, etc. than they could previously and it opens up a wide range of tactical operations that may not be used typically by conventional forces.
Should it gain traction with SOCOM I could see it being implemented into the regular military in phases, starting with heavy infantry to support combat operations.
2013/11/06 16:55:52
Subject: Real world power armor -- US Special Operations Command actually wants to build it...
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