The U.S. military's "Iron Man" suit is ready to be tested this coming summer. This Iron Man suit is called the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or "TALOS," and is developed by engineers at MIT, the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (REDECOM), and researchers at other businesses and academic institutions.
The TALOS suit is designed to provide protection from bullets and is equipped with a variety of sensors and cameras. According to Military.com, the prototypes as of now are being assembled in preparation for field tests this June.
This will be rigorously tested and military personnel are hoping to have operational systems in the field by August 2018, according to Navy Adm. William McRaven, head of the U.S. Special Operations Command.
"That suit, if done correctly, will yield a revolutionary improvement in survivability and capability for special operators," McRaven said at the 25th annual Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict conference this week in Washington, D.C., according to Military.com.
The suit's features include a 360-degree cameras with built-in night vision capabilities, sensors that can detect injuries and apply wound-sealing foam, and bulletproof armour.
Eventually, the TALOS systems may include full-body exoskeletons complete with screens that display information about a soldier's surroundings, according to Military.com.
McRaven stated that this technology could give American soldiers a "huge comparative advantage over our enemies and give our warriors the protection they need."
They further added that government agencies, corporations, universities and national laboratories are collaborating on the TALOS project, and the military may explore ways to distribute prize money as an incentive for others to get involved in the program.
"We are already seeing astounding results of this collaboration."
The TALOS project began as a way to explore how technology can be used to protect special operations officers better in combat zones. "With all the advances in modern technology, I know we can do better," McRaven said.
If Tony Stark were here right now, I doubt he would be less than surprise if the military have started to creating their own Iron Man suits for the purpose of military combat and for protection of their borders.
