A Real-Life Iron Man Suit That Could Be as Comfortable as Pajamas

Tony Stark used exotic composites, metal alloys, and other Hollywood-only make-believe materials to build his armor-plated Iron Man suit. But researchers at Harvard University's Wyss Institute, constrained by the limitations of reality, took a different approach with a muscle-enhancing exoskeleton that could one day be as comfy to wear as your favorite pair of jeans.

Working with a $2.6 million grant from DARPA's Warrior Web Program, the Harvard researchers have been developing their suit as a way to give soldiers enhanced stamina in the field. Using a series of air bladders and engineered fabrics to strengthen, support, and assist muscles, the 17-pound suit?not including the air pump backpack?can actually make a soldier about three times as strong. However, there are no rigid parts to strengthen bones, so lifting something extremely heavy would still be dangerous.

But as a way to help a soldier march longer and farther, even over challenging terrain, the suit could one day be perfected to the point where it could be worn under a standard uniform, only coming to life as it was needed. Side note: does anyone else think DARPA is actually just developing a real life superhero? [Wyss Institute via NBC News]

Source: http://gizmodo.com/a-real-life-iron-man-suit-that-could-be-as-comfortable-576953643

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