Here’s another very interesting project to come out of the 4 Minute Mile challenge — pneumatically boosted legs.
It’s another project by [Jason Kerestes] in cooperation with DARPA. We saw his jet pack a few days ago, but this one looks like it has a bit more promise. It is again a backpack mounted system, but instead of a few jet turbines, it has a pneumatic cylinders which move your legs for you.
Just watching it it’s hard to believe it makes it easier to run, but apparently after being tested at the Army Research Laboratories last year it demonstrated a whopping 10% reduction in metabolic cost for subjects running at high speeds. It can actually augment the human running gait cycle, and is the only device the US Army has confirmed can do so.
He is already hard at work designing version 2.0 which is lighter and more flexible. There’s a bunch of test videos after the break so stick around to see it in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2e4tGokqe0
And the new and improved version 2.0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vu5EXYlrnXk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q350TeTFvWU
I want a pair! Help this fat body get movin’!
Not using augmentation to move will actually get rid of the fat. Just sayin’.
These just seem really dangerous..
they said the exact same thing about early locomotives, automobiles and airplanes
And they are some of the most dangerous things you could really operate or use on a daily basis, particularly cars which kill more people than guns each year (at least domestically in most countries).
Only because there are over a billion cars.
There are way over a billion guns, too.
The weight alone negates it’s value. The soldier can either carry his kit or be strapped to a dangerous contraption that barely helps him.
people could fly much further and faster if they didn’t have to carry around those pesky airplanes
Airplanes are typically not strapped to your back. And when you do use an airplane properly, it provides somewhat more than a 10% boost of your running speed.
Sure they are, unless you are ignoring the instructions of the flight crew or have some penchant for sitting on seats backwards.
You do know what “prototype” means, right?
Yeah, it means a completed commercial product, which should be judged on it’s current capabilities with no regard for future improvement.
My idea for DARPA, a running training program for soldiers codenamed ’30 minutes of running a day’. Under this program soldiers will run 30 minutes a day, i will need 40 million dollars and top secret security clearance. Thank you.
Misleadingly titled? Cardio suggest a workout. In which you’re trying to deliberately expend energy. Expending 10% less would not be an augmentation.
the augmentation part is when you get to your destination 10% faster
If the actuator function was reversed could this be used as a training tool?
Or maybe people can just carry their own groceries home from the store
From their SUV to their home^
Spoken like someone who doesn’t live 3 miles from the store. *I* can make it home, but the milk won’t.
3 miles is only a 20 minute easy bike ride. The milk won’t spoil in that time.
It will when it’s 102 outside.
Do these somehow preform better than the more complete exoskeletons?
Spring steel like shafts connecting a metal boot plate to the pelvis, pelvis to neck frame for added support of the weight, and then adding possible pneumatic/jet accessories.
Seems a full frame allows an increase speed, agility, and endurance while increasing the size of possible payload and future upgrades.
it also means serious injuries when you fall down
but don’t worry, that never happens
As opposed to a design that stresses your joints and bones while its functioning properly?
A major concern here is a malfunction ripping your unprotected knees.
And yet again we are closer to Iron Man suits. Science is great.
How much is first prize in the Four-Minute Mile Challenge? Because I’m going to submit a pair of rollerblades.
Sure, why not? Rollerblades that can work on dirt, rocks or water would be game changing.
I think the real lesson of this hack and the jet hack is to get your ass a research with the US Army, they’ll fund anything!
^^ get your ass a research STUDY with the US Army…
Now all I have to do is teach my donkey to write a research proposal.
Best of it is that a lot of it are cost plus contracts. You get a fixed amount of money plus whatever extra unforeseen costs there are, until they decide to cancel the project. Some projects are canceled immediately (very likely if it was accepted just before a new president is elected), so you get the fixed amount basically for doing nothing.
There is a law Obama made that requires a certain amount of defense contracts to be given to small businesses.
He’s got magic legs –Forrest Gump
I see… the clicking noise motivates him to run faster,
sounds like somebody are shooting at him:)
Still not figured out the purpose of the backpack:))
Conclusion after watching all 3 videos:))
In my country we all ride kangaroos so this tech is redundant.
I want to see the airlegs and jetpack combined results.
I want to see them both combined with jumping stilts.