We aren’t new to the HULC (Human Universal Load Carrier) exoskeleton from Berkeley Bionics now Lockheed. To refresh the memory, in case it’s slipped out of the mind, the HULC is a wearable robot made essentially to take off the load from a soldier’s back. Created with an objective to mimic human form and provide extra support to let a person carry more weight than normal, the lithium-ion battery-powered HULC allows soldiers or hikers to march easily with a load of 200 pounds.
However, the robotic exoskeletons limitation of running out of power after a few hours has kept the developers on the lookout to formulate ways to keep the suit juiced up for as long as possible. For this, Lockheed is developing a fuel cell-powered version of the HULC, which will go on for days without running out of power. This advanced version would also feature power sockets to power other electronics. Therefore, this will not only help carry excessive weight, but would also cut down on extra batteries and power sources that soldiers have to carry. Video after the jump.
Via: The Register
