"The Sun hit low, and cast a fearsome blazing gleam upon the armor of my enemy, and I witnessed the blood of my friends splattered cross the iron plates. There was not flesh of man exposed in the armor of my foe, who stood alone in the field of fallen warriors. As I drew my sword, and placed my helmet upon my crown, I rushed to decorate my armor with his red essence."
Armor of all types and materials has being worn in combat since nearly the dawn of organized warfare. From the Romans, to the Greeks, to the armies of Alexander of the Great, all the way to the Knights of Europe and the Samurai, all of these warriors donned armor of various designs. That changed when the gun gained dominance over the sword in the 17th/18th centuries, and armored plates could not be forge thick enough to counter the bullet. Today, our soldiers are protected from the trauma of the bullet by ceramic plates and tight woven fibers. While effective, it only protects a small portion of the soldiers' body. Science fiction has imagined that future soldiers will be protected from the horrors of future weapons via full-body armor that also increases the soldier's endurance and strength. This idea, transformed into one of the most iconic elements of battlefield technology in military science fiction, the powered armor suit, allowing one soldier to become many. After the idea of the this futuristic armor was established by E.E. Doc Smith and Robert Heinlein, Japanese Anime/Manga along with American video games/comic books would jump on the concept and expanding it that continues to this day. In my own life, the powered armor seems to have always been there, and became a key element in my first MSF novel Endangered Species. The concept that was laid down in the 1930's, is still going strong with the current release of Elysium that features powered exo-armor.
BTW, I think there is a rather good drinking game buried in the text here. Drink every time you read the words: Starship Troopers, Robert Heinlein. or E.E. Doc Smith.
What is "Powered Armor"?
What separates the powered combat exoskeletons of science fiction from the classic protective suits of the Knights of Europe and the Samurai? Armored power suits preform the same primary function as that ancient armor: protection. However, with the use of electricity to unitize micro-motors, computers, advanced material science forge one armored soldier into many, empowering the basic foot soldier into a machine of battle. Not only is the wearer better protected from incoming fire, but, powered armor uses micro-motors, hydraulics, artificial muscle tissue, and computerized controls to amplify strength, jumping (even flight in some cases),endurance, vision via sensors of the operator along with informational systems, and onboard communications. As to form, the majority of powered armor is similar to bipedal anatomy to allow for logical/intuitive operation for the wearer. While combat is the most logical function of armored power suits, they could be used for space exploration, hospitals, construction, cargo hauling on the USS Sulaco, and rescue services.
Some Terminology
Since powered armor is extremely popular in science fiction, and every author/creator (included
me) wants to differentiate their idea of powered armor from other works contain these super-suits, they conjure up other terms. In order to more clear, the blogpost will generally refer to either powered armor or armored power suit (APS). Here is a list of other terms used in science fiction:
Given the popularity of powered armor these days across all types of media, there are thousands of examples. From my years of research (i.e., being a geek), I have divided up the various forms of Powered Armor into three types: CLASS I/II/III. All of these fit within the umbra that is powered armor. Note, that there is a division between mecha and powered armor. I think of mecha has more akin to the robotic vehicles seen in Battletech, Gundum, and ROBOTECH. These are more like walking tanks that are operated accordingly, with controls similar to a tank or combat aircraft. Powered armor is more personal and intimate, and mostly controlled via the natural appendages of the operator's body. Think of the AMP suit from AVATAR, where the pilot used their legs to move the suit, and their own hands and arms to manipulate the arms and hands of the AMP suit. Size also is a factor in breaking up the three classes of powered armor, separating them from mecha. Most armored power suits are close to size to an average human, while mecha is of the giant robot category. Some fictional military organizations make use of all types of powered armor along with mecha. This can been seen in the Imperium of Man from WH40K. They field normal infantry (the Imperial Guard), CLASS-1 APS (the Space Marines), CLASS-2 APS (Tactical Dreadnought Terminator Armor), CLASS-3 (Dreadnoughts), and mecha (Titans). So, here is the full descriptions and examples of the three classifications of powered armor.
What separates the powered combat exoskeletons of science fiction from the classic protective suits of the Knights of Europe and the Samurai? Armored power suits preform the same primary function as that ancient armor: protection. However, with the use of electricity to unitize micro-motors, computers, advanced material science forge one armored soldier into many, empowering the basic foot soldier into a machine of battle. Not only is the wearer better protected from incoming fire, but, powered armor uses micro-motors, hydraulics, artificial muscle tissue, and computerized controls to amplify strength, jumping (even flight in some cases),endurance, vision via sensors of the operator along with informational systems, and onboard communications. As to form, the majority of powered armor is similar to bipedal anatomy to allow for logical/intuitive operation for the wearer. While combat is the most logical function of armored power suits, they could be used for space exploration, hospitals, construction, cargo hauling on the USS Sulaco, and rescue services.
Some Terminology
me) wants to differentiate their idea of powered armor from other works contain these super-suits, they conjure up other terms. In order to more clear, the blogpost will generally refer to either powered armor or armored power suit (APS). Here is a list of other terms used in science fiction:
- Powered Exoskeleton
- Man Amplifier
- Space Armor (early term)
- Amplifier Exoskeleton
- Exoframe
- Hardskin
- Hardsuit
- Battlesuit
- Battle Armor
- Power Suits
- Armored Power Suit (APS)
- Powered Armor
- Combat Exo-Skeleton
- Nano-Muscle Suit
- Hazard Suit
- Resource Integration Gear
- Landmate
- Personal Tank
- Exoskeleton Armor
- Hazard Enviormental Suit (HEV)
- Power Armor
- Powered Armor Suit
- Jacket (from All You Need Is Kill)
- E-Frame
- Armored Fighting Suit
- War-Suit
- Combat Skin
- Skin Suit
- Enhanced Combat suits
- heavy powered combat armor (from Strings on a Shadow Puppet)
- Accelerator Suit
- Heavy Metal Warrior
- Man Amplifier
- Mini-Mech
The CLASS-ONE
The CLASS-1 powered armor is the wearable version and more closely related in a spiritual sense to the historical armor of the Knights of Europe and the Samurai. Unlike the other two classes of APS, CLASS-1 is more intimate and the normal biological inputs from the wearer's extremities dictate the actions of the armor. This type of powered armor allows for amplification of the operator's strength, survivability, endurance over conventional infantry. These can be completely enclosed, like Iron Man or more of a framework, like in Elysium. Given that this classification of battlesuit is based on the normal range of the operators, the size of the suit can be variable as well. With genetically modified super-soldiers of Warhammer 40K and Battletech, the size of suit increased with then increased size of the operator, making them closer to CLASS-2 in size rather than the typical CLASS-1. When comparing this type of more intimate future combat armor to an automobile, the little two-seater "roadster" type vehicles like the epic Mazda Miata, the Mini Cooper S, the old MG roadsters, and the holy Porsche 550 racer from the 1950's come to mind.
The CLASS-1 powered armor is the wearable version and more closely related in a spiritual sense to the historical armor of the Knights of Europe and the Samurai. Unlike the other two classes of APS, CLASS-1 is more intimate and the normal biological inputs from the wearer's extremities dictate the actions of the armor. This type of powered armor allows for amplification of the operator's strength, survivability, endurance over conventional infantry. These can be completely enclosed, like Iron Man or more of a framework, like in Elysium. Given that this classification of battlesuit is based on the normal range of the operators, the size of the suit can be variable as well. With genetically modified super-soldiers of Warhammer 40K and Battletech, the size of suit increased with then increased size of the operator, making them closer to CLASS-2 in size rather than the typical CLASS-1. When comparing this type of more intimate future combat armor to an automobile, the little two-seater "roadster" type vehicles like the epic Mazda Miata, the Mini Cooper S, the old MG roadsters, and the holy Porsche 550 racer from the 1950's come to mind.
Examples:
- The Chozo Power Suit from the Metroid universe
- The Element APS from Battletech
- The Mjolnir armor from HALO
- Iron Man...'nuff said
- The Accelerator Suits from G.I. Joe: The Rise of COBRA
- The Powered Armor from the Starship Trooper universe
- The powered armor from Armor
- Forever War fighting suits
- The Terran Marines from Starcraft
- The Exo-Suits from Elysium
- The Marine armor from Warhammer 40K
- The hardsuits from Bubble Crisis 2032
- The marine fighting combat space suits of the Shrapnel comics
- Power Armor from the Fallout series
- Bio-Booster Armor from Bio Booster Armor Guyver
- Skin-Suits from Fallen Dragon by Peter F. Hamiliton
- The XENON Project from Xenon: the Heavy Metal Warrior
- Nano-Suit from Crysis video game series
- The NAVSPECWAR S.W.O.R.D. armored suits from the anime OVA Vexille
- The fighting suit or "Jackets"from the book and film All You Need is Kill
Examples:
- The AMP suit from Avatar
- The APU from Martix Reloaded and Revolutions
- The Tactical Dreadnought Armor from Warhammer 40K
- The Marader armor from Starship Troopers 3
- The Fujiacomo Ghost in the Shell Manga
- The Tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
- The Prawn Powered Armor from Distict 9
- The Power-Loader from ALIENS
- The Iron Monger from Iron Man (2008)
The CLASS-THREE
One of the most rare types of powered armor seen science fiction is the CLASS-3. While it is similar to the biped mecha that litter Anime and Manga, the CLASS-3 differs in the manner of control, not size. Most giant robot combat vehicles, like in Gundum are just that, vehicles. These are piloted by use of complex controls (think Steel Battalion for the Xbox), and there is a disconnect between man and machine. The CLASS-3 powered armor is about the same scale as those walking tanks, but is controlled via the actions and impulses of the pilot muscles and brain. This allow for the CLASS-3 powered armor to be faster and more responsive than the classic mecha. One of the best examples is the Biorodis from the ROBOTECH: the Masters. If I was to compare the CLASS-3 APS to an automobile that I would chose the current trend of the four-door "coupes". These sleek cars that are both roomy, but responsive and feel more like a sports car than a saloon car. Some examples are like the sexy-as-fuck Porsche Panamera Turbo, the Fisker Karma, the Maserati Quattroporte GTS, the new BMW M6 Gran Coupe, and the Aston Martin Rapide S.
Examples
- The Jagers from Pacific Rim
- The Masters' Bioroids from ROBOTECH
- The Invid Warriors from ROBOTECH
- The Mecha from Brain Powered
- The EVA Mecha from Neon Genesis Evangelion
- The Tracer mecha from Voices from a Distant Star
- The Gunbuster mech from Gunbuster
- The Imperial Dreadnought from Warhammer 40k
Negatives of Powered Armor
- Additional Complexity
- Greater In-field Repair/Maintenance
- Increased Training
- Terrain hazards
- Higher Cost
- Increased Fuel/Energy Needs
- Greater infrastructure Needs
- Target for the Enemy
- "God-Mode" behavior
Positives of Powered Armor
- Increased Firepower capability
- Increased survivability for the Soldier
- Increased endurance
- Increased strenght
- All weather capability
- Less soldiers needed for operations
- Less heavy support needed
- Elimination of bulky machines
- NBC/Hostile Environmental Protection
- Sensors
- Can go where tanks cannot
- Psychological effect
- Defensive systems
The History of Powered Armor in Science Fiction
Tales told around camp fires about magical armor that grants the wearer greater fighting abilities since ancient times. Take the armor of Achilles fashioned by the God of Blacksmithing, Hephaestus for example along the armor of Beowulf are such examples. This desire seems intrinsic to human behavior as it continues to this very day with works like Iron Man and HALO. These mythical armor pieces allowed the warrior to amplify their strength and bravery on the battlefield, forging legends, and it is possible via technology that this desire could come to fruition.
This idea of power-driven armored suits was a nature fit for science fiction, and was first explored in the 1930's by science fiction visionary and pioneer E.E. Doc Smith. It is likely that 1937's Galactic Patrol is the first use of space powered armor. Throughout his founding space opera stories of the brave Lensman, these intergalactic warriors that use physic powers also walked around in some type of powered armor. In the text of the novels, the powered armor is often called "light space armor" composed of "dureum". This allowed Kimball Kinnison in 1947's Children of the Lens, to survive massive amounts of incoming enemy fire, and this space armor could not be worn by a normal man.
While the space armor of the Lensman series was not strictly "powered armor" by more modern examples, but given the material it was composed of, it is a given along with abilities mentioned. With the widespread popularity of the E.E. Doc Smith novels, futuristic full-body combat armor entered the imaginations of the readers. Another early tale of powered armor comes for the more pulp-side of sci-fi: The Spider and Satan's Murder Machines published in December 1939. This featured an evil gang that dons "robotic armor", and the hero of these pulp novels was "the Spider", a playboy millionaire that reminds me of Lamont Cranston from The Shadow and Batman's Bruce Wayne, uses his own robot suit to fight the evildoers. Just before FWS published this blogpost, long-time reader Christopher Phoenix, mentioned that James Blish Cities in Flight novels from the 1950's featured the use of police power-driven space armor. From my research, the space armor appeared in these novels as early as 1957!
While the first example of powered armor could be debated, the appearance that defined and codified the theory of powered suits was Robert Heinlein's 1959 military science fiction story Starship Troopers. This novel has since become the touchstone for military science fiction and powered armor. With this type of popularity, including winning a best novel Hugo award in 1960, Starship Troopers influenced generations of creators to imagine their own version of the Mobile Infantry power suits. Some believe that the M.I. armor influenced the development of the Japanese Anime/Manga staple of Mecha. This appearance of fictional powered armor that could seal a soldier away from alien environments was also being explored by Constantin Paul Lent in his 1956 design for a hardshell spacesuit that was patented, but never led to anything.
In 1967, a powered exoskeleton based on the Cornell Man Amplifier and the GE Hardiman was seen in the spy comedy film The Ambushers. While the movie was a throwaway attempting to cash in on the James Bond crazy, it did feature powered exoskeletons that were designed for lifting work, not combat. This realistic and non-combat role for powered exoskeletons was also seen in the 1968 yellow exoskeleton toy from the Major Matt Mason toyline by Mattel. The "supernaut power-limbs" toy was packaged with the concept of it being used by the astronauts to explore outer space while helping with their work with the "space stilts". Another similar toy for the Major Matt Mason toyline was released in 1969, called the "space power suit pak". This featured a remote control non-electric squeezable system to allow the child to use the "power hammer" and "power claw". Once again this was aimed at space exploration and not space-based warfare.
Between 1971-1973, the Marvel comics would featured several power armor wearing characters. In 1971, we witness the emergence of the "Mandroid" designed by Stark Industries for use by S.H.I.E.L.D and the "Soviet Super Troopers" outfitted in weaponized mechanical suits that would combat the Hulk.This would established a trend of the Incredible Hulk facing off with powered armor foes. Military science fiction would see another founding classic be published in 1974 with Joe Haldman's The Forever War. When human first encounters hostile aliens, the United Nations begins training soldiers with IQ's over 150 for the Expeditionary Force that will engage the Tauran forces far from Terra via use of Collapsars. Soldiers like Potter and Mandella are issued "fighting suits" and chemical lasers to combat their evil alien foe. These fighting suits were a hybrid of the combat spacesuit and the powered armor. Again, like Starship Troopers, the Forever War would become a highly successful sci-fi novels, winning the major awards for science fiction literature and further solidify the concept of powered armor within future warfare tales.
Occurring at around the same time as the publishing of The Forever War, was the emergence of military sci-fi wargames in the mid-1970's. Games like Starguard! Interstellar Infantry-2550 AD, SPI's StarSoldier: Tactical Warfare in the 25th Century, and Avalon Hill's Starship Troopers all featured soldiers in powered armor waging war on exoplanets. This was an important step in introducing fresh legions to the concept of powered armor in use in military sci-fi. While the Americans were exploring the concept of powered armor via comics, books, and wargames, the Japanese were noticably quiet. That would change in 1979 with the coming of Mobile Suit Gundam and the introduction of futuristic military mecha to the world of manga and anime.
This concept would catch fire like a tossed cigarette in a dry national park. Mecha of all shapes and sizes would populate anime and manga, and be global exported to hungry little viewers like myself in the dawn of the 1980's. While Mecha is a board definition for advance robotic machines, powered armor often gets lumped into the mix, and with the success of Mobile Suit Gundam, came powered armor into manga and anime. With works like Genesis Climber MOSPEADA with their cyclones, the Zentradi power suits from Super Dimension Fortress Macross, and various powered armor war-machine in Ma.K ZBV3000 and Armored Trooper VOTOMS. This storm of Anime and Magna works featuring powered armor would also be supported by a strong wargame culture in North America with games like OGR E/GEV, Traveller, Armored Assault, Dragonstar Rising that were all supported with the explosion of comic/hobby stores.
I can still remember going into my favorite comic stores in Tulsa, and witnessing walls of futuristic war-machine models and boxed games that I couldn't afford. Behind closed doors in these comic/hobby stores where early tabletop war simulations were being waged. In December 1984, another classic of military science fiction was released and built on the trend of powered armored soldier combating sentient insect aliens on other planets. Written by fellow Texan John Steakley, who I actually met at a sci-fi convention in 2004, Aromor was a direct response to Heinlein's 1959 classic. Steakley stated that Armor was born out of lack of combat in the novel, and more focused on the struggle of soldiers in inhuman combat. This would be another founding literary classic of military science fiction. Sadly, a sequel was in the works when Mr. Steakley passed away recently.
1986-1987 would prove to be a pivotal years in powered armor history. 1986 would see James Cameron's magnum opus ALIENS displaying a rare live-action example of powered armor in the powerloader created one of the best ambassadors for inclusion of powered exoskeletons into future science fiction works. In 1987, the harbinger of powered armor being a staple of video games arrive with Samus Aran in 1987's Metroid. The genre of wargaming would be forever altered by the creation of Games Workshops Warhammer 40,000 also in 1987. This one work would spawn generations of fans and admirers, who would use Warhammer 40K has inspirational for their own powered armor. While Starship Troopers may have spread the gospel of powered armor in military sci-fi, Warhammer 40k invaded the world of science fiction and converted millions to the cause at the barrel of a boltgun. Powered armor in science fiction would be radically different if Games Workshops had never developed 40K. It was also during 1987, that one of my favorite anime series, Bubblegum Crisis was released, and proudly displayed female combatants in their powered hardsuits.
It was also during these banner years, that First Comics would publish
Dynamo Joe, an American far-future war story featuring all sizes of mecha and powered armor influenced by Anime and Manga. This was the series that introduced me to the term "armored power suit" in issue number seven. From 1988 to 1990, powered armored in science fiction would see a boost with the Japanese OVA based on Starship Troopers released in 1988 along with models of their interruption of the power suit. This was coupled with Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 and the OVA of Masamune Shirow's Appleseed manga series that had been exploring the urban warfare aspect of powered armor since 1986.
Another ambassador product of powered armor was 40k universe. This was just another delivery method for Games Workshop to pedal their war-crack to young minds, hooking them for life to the nipple of GWS, and it was a might cool game that I saw many times around the comic shop, and played a few times.
the simplified boardgame from 1989 that pitted Space Marine Terminators against monstrous Genestealers set in the
By the dawn of the 1990's, the power of home video game consoles and PCs, allowing for powered armor to be featured in mainstream games. The iconic powerhouse of mecha combat games, Battletech, forged their own battlesuit, the Elementals with the 1990 Technical Readout: 3050. This allowed for powered armor to be used in one of the largest wargaming products, and was later filtered down into future Battletech products. The early 1990's would see video games carry the mantel of Metroid and run with: Space Hulk: Vengeance of the Blood Angels,X-COM, Crusader: No Remorse, Dune: II, many, many others. Powered armor of the later 1990's could be best exemplified by Tribes, Starcraft, Half-Life, and Fallout. Powered armor was not limited to video games, but also was seen in western animation. The American animated TV series of Battletech, Exo-Squad, and Roughnecks: Starship Troopers would all featured powered armor on-screen and in spin-off toys.
Computer technology would not only allow for the Master Chief to storm ancient ring shaped worlds, but also for mainstream science fiction films to (finally) include powered armor that did not look like something out of Ray Harryhausen fever dream. 2003 would see the APU combat exo-skeletons in the third Matrix film, one of the finest examples of powered armor in live-action cinema at that time. However, the level was raised with the live-action Iron Man movie in 2008 and the sequels that followed, along with the AMP suits from James Cameron's AVATAR in 2009. This over-sized combat armor that walked the line between mech-suit and powered armor, but appeared all business when the action started. 2009 was also the year that Neil Blomkamp give use the Prawn powered armor in the jarring District 9 and the accelerator armor suits from the first live-action G.I. Joe movie. With Pacific Rim and Elysium both released in 2013 and Edge of Tomorrow in 2014, the trend of powered armor equipped warriors appears to be not slowing down. Books featuring powered armor are alos not slowing down, in 2013, Baen Books would publish an entire anthology of stories devoted to powered armor called Armored. On the horizon for live-action cinema powered armor is the reboot of Starship Troopers, more Iron Man films, a possible HALO movie, and the long-delayed the Forever War. Gaming will continue using powered armor with the upcoming HALO 5 and Destiny. As of the writing of this blogpost in August of 2013, there seems to be no slowing down of the trend of including powered armor in all medium of science fiction.
Real-World Powered Armor
Before science fiction showed us vision of super-troopers dosing out atomic grenades at bug-aliens on other planets, the idea of machines making man's work easier via enhancing the worker's body have been around since 1890 and continue onward through today. The majority of real-world powered exoskeleton were not designed specifically for combat applications, but more for having the strength of a Wookie. Mostly, powered exoskeleton are being explored to replace forklifts via slave and master system, and to take the load off soldiers, not dual-wield light machine guns and jumping over tall buildings. Here is a list of some of the examples of real-world powered armor suits.
Hardiman (1966)
General Electric in the mid-1960's, with funding for the US military, designed a suit of powered exoskeleton that could lift 1500lbs and be used primarily onboard aircraft carriers to load ordnance on fighters.However, the Hardiman suit weighted in at 1500lbs with 28 joints, and there were issues with the power supply, but it did work as promised. What prevented the Hardiman to become standard naval equipment was the dangerous habit of the joints to become unstable and behave with a mind of their own to the degree that it threatened the wearer. Much of the photos with an operator inside where done with the power off. GE explored the possibility of a system that just unitized the arms of the Hardiman but that ended in 1971.
AX-5 Hard-Shell Spacesuit (1988)
In the mid-1980's, the AMES research center beginning work on space suit that would have a metal shell with mobility joints instead of the standard fabric "soft suit" used today. The AX-5 prototypes achieved a flexibility rating of 95%, Why was the AX-5 never on an EVA? One reason was weight, soft suits weight less than hard suits. Hard suits are unappealing visual when compared to the soft suit...which mattered to the NASA PR department, and those joints could lock up in EVA. I can remember NASA fooling around with this concept, and it was believed that the hard suit would be more rigidized for Martian exploration.
Cornell Man Amplifier (1961)
In the early 1960's, Cornell Aeronautical labs in Buffalo, New York worked on the theory and development of a man amplifier exoskeleton...all prior to Iron Man. The idea was to use bilateral force feedback with force reflection using machine joints (slave) laid upon biological joints (master) to boost the strenght of the wear. It was believed that this suit could take the place of bulky lifting machines and allow the handicapped to walk. The Cornell exoskeleton only got to the mock-up stage and electric joint motors were never applied. However, the research done by Cornell labs for the Man Amplifier exoskeleton did led to the GE Hardiman suit.
LIFESUIT (1987)
In 1986, Army Ranger Monty Reed suffered a broken back during a parachute accident. During his recovery, he read Starship Troopers, and turned his energies to developing a powered exoskeleton. By 2001, Monty had developed the first generation of pneumatically powered LIFESUIT, and the system is in its fourteenth generation. He also established a foundation called They Shall Walk by selling his own ranch to start the work of using the LIFESUIT, now called the RehabSuit to help physically disabled walk. Monty Reed is developing powered exoskeletons for the right reasons, and should be celebrated for bring hope.
NASA X1 Load-Bearing Exo-Suit (2012)
While researching this NASA exoskeleton, I came across a new term: robonaut. It seems that the X1 load-bearing exo-suit being developed by NASA and other companies will be applied to manned and unmanned space missions. This 57 pound suit could be used to prevent muscle loss among astronauts during long duration space mission. Another application of the technology for fleshy space explorers could be off-loading of cargo during expeditions of Mars and other worlds with more normal gravital fields and could recycle via solar panels. This would decrease the need for bulky machines and lessen the risk of injury to the astronaut millions of miles from home. For the robotic space explorers, the X1 could be an telepresence interface for a biped space probe.
Power Assist Suit (1990)
One of the primary real-world applications of powered exoskeletons would be to increase the operator's strength to super-human levels, and allow for lifting to be done in a egomaniac manner. Since 1990, several Japanese firms and universities have experimented with this type of powered exoskeleton, including motorbike manufacture Kawasaki. All seem to aimed at the same market, lifting and possible medical applications, especially important in Japan with an aging population.
H.A.L Suit (2002)
This is yet another Japanese powered exoskeleton called HAL or Hybrid Assertive Limb, that also developed not for war but for lifting and walking, along with looking a bit like suit out of TRON. HAL, now in its fifth generation is built by Cyberdyne of Japan was original developed for medical applications, and in March of 2013, HAL suits were under tests in ten Japanese hospitals. The HAL could be the future of powered armor in everyday life, being a medical device allowing the lifting of heavy patients, physical therapy, and warehouse work. Cyberdyne envisions the HAL suit becoming similar to the bulk of hospital equipment, rented, at a rate of a few thousand dollars a month.
The BLEEX or the Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton System was developed by Berekeley University (surprise!) and DARPA for military applications beginning in the year 2000. BLEEX was only mounted to the legs of the soldier to prevent overtaxing of the soldier while hiking over rough terrain while carrying heavy loads. In 2004, a working prototype was tested fitted to a small motor that made the BLEEX as stealthy as a lawnmower. The cost? About $50 million dollars, and the project seems to have ended and the research rolled into another DARPA exoskeleton project.
XOS (2007)
The US Army and DARPA has two powered exoskeletons under development. One being the HULC and the other is the XOS. Raytheon with Sarcos has been working on a full-body powered exoskeleton since 2007. XOS grew out of various other DARPA exoskeleton projects, and Sarcos design was chosen by DARPA for continued development for a cost of $15 million dollars. The primary goals of the XOS exoskeleton was to increase the operator's strength, endurance, and could preform the lifting tasks of up to three soldiers and even some bulky machines. At present, the second generation of XOS powered exoskeletons is under testing with a small motor to provide the power requirement. In order for the XOS system to be fielded, the reliance on a internal combustion motor would have to eliminated in favor of a fuel cell.
HULC (2000)
The Human Universal Load Carrier was developed by Dr. Kazerooni and a team at Ekso Bionics beginning in 2000 and the idea of the HULC was later sold to Lockheed Martin in 2009. Dr. Kazerooni had previously been involved with the BLEEX exoskeleton, and worked to develop a lower-extremity support system that would allow a soldier to carry 200lbs of gear without fatigue for eight hours of operation. Lockheed Martin is currently working on a lighter version for US Army testing. The primary purpose of the HULC is not super-soldier aero-kicks of death, but to allow the soldier to not experience the loss of combat effectiveness via the carrying of 130lbs of combat gear. In order to allow the HULC deployment on longer missions, Lockheed is testing a fuell cell power supply that would allow for 96 hours of operational life.
DARPA Warrior Web (2012)
The Realities of Powered Armor in Combat
Beside enemy's using anti-tank cannons on you, powered armor would also be faced with the realities of terrain and energy. Terrain on this planet has defined the types of combat resources that can be brought to bear, and powered armored would be also limited by terrain on this world and others. Take the current combat zones of Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraq would be a better environment for powered armor deployment considering the types of terrain and urban combat zones, along with proximity to friendly resources. Sand could pose an issue, but not like the unforgiving terrain of Afghanistan or even Vietnam. Rough, uneven terrain could pose threats from unstable ground, resulting in falls or damage.
At the very least, these types of terrain could drain power supplies rapidly, causing the need for resupply. These issues only multiply when you consider dense jungles, like those seen in Vietnam or Pandora, or completely unsettled worlds like Mars. The more hostile the conditions, the more power would be needed to support the operator, even if that means air conditioning while patrolling the deep deserts of Arrakis. Of course, that is one of the great elements of powered armor, sealed environment, even if it eats up power. Your soldiers could march across the arctic would risk of their fingers and toes falling off, and the extreme toll that these types of environmental conditions reap on the unarmored body. In some ways, while weather conditions are always important for combat, powered armor negates some of these. Your soldiers in battlesuits could nice and dry during a rainstorm, cool and comfortable in the middle of the desert, and toasty warm in the deep cold of a Martian desert.
The Psychological Effect of Powered Armor
Psychological effects work both ways. The operators of powered armor could suffer from a “god-mode” mentality, especially if they came from combat infantry. Consider this, if an infantryman joins the armor corps after service their time in the shit, than their POV on combat would be altered by the donning of the suit. When these operators were in the infantry with their ass-in-the-grass, a near miss by an RPG or one direct hit by an assault rifle round could result in a trip to a field hospital or worse. In the armor, most rifle rounds would be ineffective (at first), and the entire operator to (mostly) ignore the light incoming fire. This could cause a false sense of security for the suit, and could led to trouble. Soldiers will have to be trained to be mindful of the “god mode” effect and the limitations of the armor in combat. After all, no machine is without a weakness, and if it bleeds we can kill it.
Could You Fly with Powered Armor?
With MILSPEC jet-packs, we could the emergence of specially trained, tactical assault, but lightly armored flight system allowing for limited flight with heavy amounts of training. These troopers would use maneuverability instead of ballistic protection. However, true-blue CLASS-1 powered armor would not behave like Tony Shark's creation or the jump packs of the Space Marines. One of the key roles of powered armor is to protection of the operator, not to accommodate flight, much of the armor would have to be stripped to allow for increased fuel economy, especially when taking off from the ground. Any flying suit would be a target for AAA, and with less armor and no were near the defensive system of a fighter could all led to dead troopers. Then we have the fuel supply. Given the design of powered armor, there is an obviously lack of fuel storage tanks. Just examine the classic Iron Man suit, no tanks or storage devices that could allow for the performance of flight we've seen in the films and comics...not to mention outrunning F-22 Raptors! On the original gold-and-red comic armor, the liquid fuel tanks were in the cuff of the suit's boots. Seriously...in the cuff. There could be another way, if artificial muscle technology continued, we could propel powered armor on short-hops similar to a flea (not the bassist!).
Here is the Marvel article on how Iron Man could fly:
http://marvel.com/news/story/12132/marvel_science_iron_mans_flight_capabilities
Full Body Armor vs. CLASS-1 Powered Armor
The Weapons of Powered Armor
The armored power suit of science fiction allows for a wide canvas for the creator to mount all manner of offensive and defensive systems. In the original 1959 Starship Troopers opening pages, capsule launched MIs from Rasczak's Roughnecks perform a "smash-and-destroy"raid a Skinny world using heavy-flamers, something called "knife beams" and less-than 2 kiloton atomic rockets. There was no mention of machine guns, assault rifles, nor rotary cannons...just these weapons. This could be due to the mission, but atomic weapons and only a flame-thrower for your defensive armament? Odd choice. It would take the Japanese animation and American RPGs to shape the powered armor weaponry from pulp-era lasers, heat rays, and atomic bombs to something akin to the attack helicopter and Blain from Predator.
The Weapons of the CLASS-1
Given that the majority of CLASS-1 suits use unmodified hands, this allows these operator to utilize standard issue infantry weapons, like the SPARTANs from HALO and the Cyclones from ROBOTECH: the New Generation. With the added abilities of the armor, an operator can wield heavier weaponry, like light machine guns and higher-caliber rifles without the punishing effects. Not only can the armor lift more, it can support more, allowing for a greater capability of grenades, ammunition. Some works content that powered armor could allow an operator to fire weapons effective akimbo.
The Weapons of the CLASS-2
The Weapons of the CLASS-3
Here is the big boy of powered armor firepower, the CLASS-3! Due to the size of the CLASS-3 being similar to walking tanks of mecha, the offensive and defensive systems increase dramatically. Massive rotary cannons with deep stores of ammunition, rapid-fire cannons, rail guns, large-projectile Gauss guns, directed energy and missiles on a Macross scale. As with the CLASS-2 APS, the third type benefits greatly from a even larger powerplant, allowing for large-scale energy-based weaponry. This increase in size also allows for an increase of defensive systems.
Powering the Power Armor
In the realm of science fiction powered exoskeletons, the answer to the power issue is the micronized fusion generator. With these magically devices, super-soldiers can generate force fields, uber-strength to allow tanks to be tossed, and bend light to achieve ninjaness. While a portable micro-fusion generator would solve the thirsty needs of the suit...where would you put it? On your back? Near your balls? Are you going to train every powered suit operator in nuclear engineering? Would the generator be able to survive the stresses of combat? Other options for the power supply include: fuel cells, liquid fuels, battery packs, internal combustion engines, small rotary engines (Mazda RX-7 anyone?), magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generator, radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG), and micronized nuclear generator.
In most of science fiction, the CLASS-2 AMP suits from AVATAR is powered by monopropellant or fuel cells, while the MJOLNIR CLASS-1 armor from HALO is powered by a micro-fusion reactor, while others are powered by "power pack" that uses super-batteries of the future. Some powered armor actually draws power from the wearer's own body! This is seen in Peter Hamilton's Fallen Dragon with the Skin Suits that are fueled by the wearer's blood. Some of the suits worn by Tony Stark (in the comics), were powered by a battery pack or even betavoltaics. While in the recent films, the Arc Reactor is some sort of micro-fusion generator that is in the firm Handwavium and unobtainium...but really fucking cool. Anyone have a Mr. Fusion or some protoculture laying around?
The Line Between Powered Armor and Cyborgs
The Meat Inside the Machine
Science Fiction is divided on who will command powered armor into battle. Works like HALO and Battletech feature specially trained super-soldiers with exclusive usage of these machines. It was made very clear in the HALO universe, that only the SPARTANs could don the Mjolnir without suffering serious injury. This concept is taken even further in the WH40k universe with the Adeptus Astartes. Not only are these marines forged by vast genetic engineering, but they are much greater in scale than a normal human, and their powered armour is also much greater in scale, causing this armour to be the domain of the Adeptus Astartes only.
Peeling the Layers of Powered Armor Away...
Layers and the micro-scale of which certain things function at can betray the complexity that exists beneath the surface, much like the human brain or smart phone. Powered armor is no different, and in science fiction, the battlesuit is often depicted being composed of layers, much like the ancient armor suits of the Knights of Europe and the Samurai. Each of these layers serves both the greater goal of the armor purpose and its own individual duty, I decided we should peel the layers back of the suit, and describe each of the major layers of mainly CLASS-1 battlesuits. I tried to detail some of the hard future technology that compose the layer. Some of my information came from this article:
http://www.dcr.net/~stickmak/JOHT/joht15poweredarmor.htm
The Helmet: Your Brain-Bucket
According to the majority of CLASS-1 powered armor, the helmet will be the main nerve center for control and information for the suit operations. Streams of information would be routed via a HUD systems either projected onto the visor or directly into the eyes. The operator could manage these systems via voice commands, eyes, thought, their tongue, or chin. When it comes to the brain-computer interface control of the suit, besides direct muscle input, superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) could be used. SQUID are very sensitive magnetic field sensors that could detect changes in the brain's activity, allowing for nearly instant reaction.
Of course, the suit would have to learn to the patterns of the operator's brain. Ghost in the Shell used plugs in the back of the head, to connect the brain of the operator to the computer network of the suit. Other works have devised "thinking caps" to slave the brain and the suit as an interconnected unit. One of the fears of any CLASS-1 armor operator is that their head is there for the entire battlefield to see and hit, because it would be on the weak points on the suit, like the knees. And much like the knees, there could only be so much protection applied to the head give the limited surface area and limited sloping.
Layer 1: Be the Juggernaut
One of the primary roles of powered armor is to allow one soldier to become many, and the outer most layer of the suit allows for one soldier to survive and dominate the battlespace. This layer is the most difficult to strike a balance between protection and mobility. Too much, and the suit is weighted down, taxing the motors and power supply, and causing too much bulk to be effective in an infantry capability. Too little armor, and the suit will be picked apart by incoming fire. Most armored power suits have hard shell plates fitted over the non-flexible portions of the suit. These hard surface portions could be constructed out of various laminates, monocrsytalline iron filaments, Graphene tubes, singe-walled carbon nanotubes, ring carbon,or good old titanium. Science fiction loves to use the term "plasteel" for the outer layer of the suit. All of these would be greater in protective value than current rolled homogenous armor while being lighter in weight, and all angled .The hard plated armor would be modular, allowing for quick replacement during combat, allowing for quicker turnaround times.The flexible portions would be protected some sort of nano-composite material, l. These less-region surfaces could be filled with magnetorheological fluid that response to magnetic field by increase the density, hardening during times of need, and returned to a fluid state after-action. Also, the outside plating could be treating with something similar to that new superhydrophobic spray, to cast off liquids, ablative armor for defense against DEW beams, and environmental adaptive camouflage paint.
Layer 2: Strong...Like Bull!
Layer 3: Are You Gellin'?
The first layer protects from the hazards of the battlefield while the second layer amplifying the wearer superhuman strength, and the ability to move the suit with the same easy as the operator's own limbs, and this third layer is packed with impact-adsorbing material to cushion the operator and the computer system that would line the inside of the third layer from the shock energy by hostile fire impact. One material that could be used is the recently developed D30 gel-material that goes rigid when impacted. aerogel could be used as a impact absorption material to decrease damage taken from nearly explosions and impacts from kinetic weaponry. This layer would also feature life-support systems, with redundant systems.
Layer 4: Clothing Optional
When it came time for my novel with powered armor, I decided that the characters would wear normal combat gear. My thought process was that at some point during combat, the possibility of the operator being forced to abandon the armor due to damage was high, and would you want to be hanging out in your underwear during a firefight? I thought not. There could be a special suit worn instead of BDUs or your Victoria's Secrets that could medically support the wearer. Given that everyone on the battlefield is going to take a shot at you, the suit is going to take damage, and this special fourth layer could be packed with medical-grade nanobots that could repair wounds, injection pain meds, and even support broken bones until the suit can leave the hot-zone. This type of ability is seen with the HEV suit from Half-Life universe. It is certain that any layer four system would keep the operator comfortable, monitor their health, and eliminate any bodily wastes.
Exoplanets: The AO for the APS?
My first attempt at an MSF novel containing an armored power suit unit came in 2010 (The Battle for Shepard's Moons), and used hostile environments on exoplanets to explain why powered armor existed, similar to the powered armor seen in the Radical Comic Shrapnel. Could future exoplanetary battlesites be the natural area of operation for the powered armor?
When we consider cost of powered armor, the weakness of spacesuits in a warzone, along with the support systems needed for troopers on a hostile exoplanet, powered armor may be the way to go. Given the sealed nature of powered armor that allows for NBC protection, it is a good platform to expand on for an armored hardshell spacessuit for combat EVA. Also, powered armor could fill in for other heavier support elements, along with infantry, by use of different classes of armor. APS units could be the rapid response force for an colonizing military organization. This would allow for the right combination of maneuverability and firepower for most tactical situations, especially if the operators of the armor are correctly trained. One can image APS clad troopers dropped onto a low-gravity moon, weapons at the ready, and hostiles getting ready for a fight.
Powered Armor or Armored Spacesuit?
When we do indeed step off-world, future combat zones will not be limited to the garden planets of the galaxy, but lifeless moons, and frozen deserts, causing infantry to don militarized EVA suits to protect the resources. Powered armored makes a good fit for a MILSPEC spacesuit, given its fully sealed nature and being designed for combat conditions, which spacesuits are not. In the pages of Starship Troopers, this is said: "A suit isn't a spacesuit-although it can serve as one". And we have seen powered armor being used in hazard environments and space warfare in many sci-fi works, and the line is often blurred, much like in The Forever War with the fighting suits. It would be more economical for a future government to field APS wearing infantry for these types of operations rather than marines in combat spacesuits.
Could Powered Armor be Standard Equipment for all Infantry?
One popular concept in science fiction is that future governments will buy and field CLASS-1 powered armor for all of their infantry, much like the Federation in Starship Troopers. Is this even possible? I think not. First, there is the massive cost of outfitting millions of infantry with their own suits, and the staff to maintain and service the armor. Then we have an increase in infrastructure to handle the greater demand for energy/fuel and spare parts. There would also be a more involved training process and selection for soldiers that could handle the demands of operating powered armor. Of course, if all infantry of this future government were outfitted in suits, then there would be less infantry. After re-reading Starship Troopers and Armor for this blogpost, I get the impression that the infantry in those novels is smaller than current standing armies.
Bio-Armor?
Organic technology is the combination of science and engineering utilizing biological systems for use with hard technology. Given that there are thousands of Terran species that make use of organic armor, could the same idea be applied to powered armor? Science fiction seems to think so. While more science takes queues from organic models, it is not yet quiet up to the level of organic technology seen in science fiction, but synthetic biology is on the horizon. Bio-armor or organic armor would be an interesting answer to some of the basic problems of hard technology APS systems. Bio-armor could heal itself, be powered by ATP producing Mitochondrion power-cells, like our own bodies, and even be combined with nano-based technology. While all of this sounds great for all types of APS, it does rise some questions. Could the bio-armor be removed? Would the bio-armor be more susceptible to biological or chemical weapons than traditional armor? How would the operator's own body and the bio-armor interact?
Could Powered Armor Benefit Combat Female Soldiers More?
There is also concern over what will happen when female soldiers are wounded in combat on unit morale. I
explored this possibility in my own novel Endangered Species, via my main character, Jorja Leeds. She reflects on her Dragoon APS allowed her to be on equal footing, unlike her days in the infantry, with both friend and foe. I am certain that powered armor could dismiss some of the arguments against women in combat, especially the physical differences between the sexes, and leveling the battlefield. Even in the examples currently being experimenting with, original physical strength matter little in the overall performance of the suit. Some may argue that if the female operator had to abandon the APS in a combat zone, than the old issues with women in combat would crop back up. My personal opinion is that women should serve in combat. FWS will exploring this topic in greater detail in a upcoming blogpost.
Will Powered Armor be a Reality?
Yes...but in what form? I believe that powered exoskeletons that are currently under development to lightly the war-gear load-out of soldiers will be deployed by 2025, and commercial exoskeletons designed for the strength amplification will be used in the warehouse and medical fields possible earlier. What we have seen in Elysium will be a battlefield reality. The full-body enclosed powered armor of Starship Troopers will depend on the need. If these types of powered armor are to be developed, the need and money will have to be there. My guess is that once we begin to colonize, the line between powered armor and ballistic MILSPEC spacesuit will blur. I also believe that the continued population growth coupled with the increase in urbanize could led to CLASS-2 powered armor systems. Of course, CLASS-2 could be an outgrowth of off-world sealed powered work exoskeletons, like the AMP suits from AVATAR for example.
The Different Interpretation of the Powered Armor from Starship Troopers
Since 1959, there have vast array of interpretations of the powered armor seen in the original Robert Heinlein text. Some were simply cover artists making their mark on the book, and most bared little similarity to the suits mentioned in the book.
The Original Text (1959)
Three different types of powered armor existed in the 1959 text: Marauder, Scout, and Command, all these "steel gorillas" with different functions, abilities, and armaments. The Marauder was the standard assault suit, and could be tailored to the operator's taste and the mission profile, and was the even of all the other suits' abilities. During the raiding mission on the Skinny world, the Marauder suits were seen hopping from objective to objective, while tossing atomic grenades and baking Skinnies with hand flamers. The weakest in terms of arms and armor was the scout suit, but could travel further with greater jump capabilities. Command suits were issued to the field commanders, and featured greater communications, informational feeds for the other suits under the officer's command, increased power, and jump-jets. It is unknown of the Command suit had greater armaments than the Marauder suit. One of the main descriptor of the Mobile Infantry suit was that: "suited up, you look like a big steel gorilla, armed with gorilla-sized weapons. But the suits are considerably stronger than a gorilla. If a Mobile Infantry man in a suit swapped hugs with a gorilla, the gorilla would be dead, crushed; the man and suit wouldn't be mussed."
The Avalon Hill Board Game (1976)
One of the first works outside of the original Starship Trooper novel was the 1976 Avalon Hill board game that pitted the Mobile Infantry against the Skinnies and the Arachnids. All types of the powered armor of the M.I. is featured here, along with hostile alien units. I came across the original 1976 manual online, and there is nothing mentioned about the types of weapons used by the M.I. troopers, however the armor is featured in several black-&-white drawings. On the box and in the gaming manual, the armor is depicted as a cross between Iron Man's original grey armor fitted with a dive helmet. In the hands of the dropping in M.I. troopers is a ray-gun rifle indicative of the 1960's sci-fi films. While the game did forward military sci-fi gaming, and kept SST in the minds of another generation, there is nothing much about powered armor here.
The Uchu No Senshi Anime OVA (1988)
In 1988, Uchu No Senshi or "Space Soldiers" was release in Japan and told the story of Johnny Rico over six-parts. This Laser-Disc film was never formally released in the United States, but fans have been dubbing it and selling it for years. Uchu No Senshi is closer to the 1959 novel than the movies or American animated series. The powered armor featured in the six-part OVA were called Pawado Sutsu and also called "Enhanced Combat suits". Unlike the novel, these CLASS-2 powered armor would feature more conventional armaments, like assault rifles and machine guns, along with grenade launchers. Much like the novel, the Japanese suits use jet-packs, some sort of atomic rocket, and different classes of the basic suit, like commander, scout, flamer, and heavy gunner. There was also a number of similarities to the novel powered armor, like a HUD system controlled by inputs from the chin, and some of the Y-rack concept listed in the novel. I personally love the design of these powered armor.
The Roughnecks Animated Series (1999)
While the 1997 live-action movie was void of anything like powered armor, this animated series that was tied to the movie, did feature powered armorAccording to the official Roughnecks series outline, the Mobile Infantry wears CLASS-1 type of powered armor. This allows for greater speed, reaction time, increased strength, full hostile environmental protection, and greater offensive and defensive capabilities. In the series itself, the powered armor effect is not well done, making these "power suits" as they are called, to more akin to armored MILSPEC combat spacesuits complete with fancy head-lamps and embedded sensor technology in visor. One cool element in the series was the power suits did not float, and that the Federation's allies, the Skinnies don their own "alien"powered armor.
The Starship Troopers Comics (1997-2006)
Over the years, several companies held the rights to publish comics based on Starship Troopers. When these rights were held, caused the armor SST universe to conform to that particular vision. The first rash of comics from Dark Horse were based on the 1997 film, and the art on the armor of the Mobile Infantry was reflected. That meaning, there was no powered armor in these comics, only the blue-grey partial body armor of the film. The next wave of comics that came around the time of the animated Roughneck series. In turn, these comics by a smaller press, used the series' CLASS-1 type of powered armor and even the CLASS-2 "Marauder" type. Another type of heavier CLASS-2 APS was seen in the pages of SST: Dominant Species, that was developed and used in the invasion of the Bugs' homeworld. This appears to heavily armor and armed to deal with the massive numbers of bugs. These comics died out in 2006, and so far, no new SST comics have emerged, which could be based on the new animated movie, Invasion.
Starship Troopers Video Games
Several video games have designed around the SST universe, and most of these have followed in the footsteps of the 1997 film. The 2000 real-time strategy game SST: Terran Ascendancy featured several classes of powered armor that were based off terms used in the 1959 text. From scout, to commander, to marauder, there were many choices, but all were on the ugly side, given the limits of graphic technology in 2000. These suits seem more heavier construction, like a piece construction equipment than not an CLASS-2 combat suit. It seems for the gameplay online, that a majority of the heavier suit act has heavy weapons support. In the 2005 computer-shooter, the player takes control of an advanced CLASS-1 powered armor called "marauder" that was in the prototype phase, and you fight in the 1997 universe. The suit was barely seen in the game, and looks and acts typical of a CLASS-1 suit in a video game setting.
Starship Troopers: 3 Marauder (2008)
After two live-action films, fans of SST finally received our reward: heavily armed powered armor in the third direct-to-DVD film. As seen in the film, under a Federation top secret project, known as Marauder, CLASS-2 combat armor was developed by the official name of the M11 Marauder, but nicknamed "Babar" after the beloved Elephant. According to the official model/toy data-card, the Armored Bipedal Vehicle was 3.65 meters and weighted in at 10.3 tons, all powered by a fission driver that generated enough power for a 638 mile range at 8 MPH. The variety of weapons varied greatly, from rotary cannons, 155mm cannons, 15.6mm four-barreled machine guns, 41mm grenades, flamethrowers, and twin-barreled smoothbore 40.4mm cannons. In the film, a team of these heavily CGI prototype vehicles appear on the scene, and rake the incoming bugs with hellish outgoing fire. Prior to their kicking ass, the entire team had be full-body scanned in the nude...and the entire cast stepped up, got nude, and let the bright yellow run over them. Totally unneeded. I will give the third film credit, the Babar APS is a nice design.
Starship Troopers: Invasion (2013)
In the 2013 American animation that took place in the 1997 film universe, the Roughnecks use power suits that are firmly CLASS-1. These are called Power Suits, and feature two layers. The inner most layer is called a "muscle suit", which increases the wearer's strength, while the outer layer, called the main powered suit is designed to be the body armor.
Starship Troopers Remake Powered Armor (20XX)
If and when the SST remakes gets off of the ground, it has been confirmed, in 2012, by producer Tony Jaffee that we will see powered armor in the new movie. The question is what will the Mobile Infantry be wearing...CLASS-1 or CLASS-2?
The Military Science Fiction and Powered Armor Connection
The relationship of military science fiction and powered armor runs deep, and since nearly the beginning of the sub-genre of MSF, powered armored infantry has been there. Part of this relationship is due to the founding classic of military sci-fi also featured one of the most iconic tales of powered armor in future combat, Starship Troopers in 1959. But, what is about powered armor that allows it so easily to be an iconic element of futuristic warfare? My guess is that since full-body armor disappeared after the spread of firearms to the battlefield, it's reemergence would be via a great leap in technology, especially given the world of modern warfare. Powered armor itself is radically different that any technology used for current infantry and the image alone of future soldiers in full-on body armor that increases their strength and allows them to separated from the local environment while wielding massive weaponry is purely futuristic, and is a powerful tool for the creator and audience. I think powered armor is a symbol, like FTL space travel, laser blasters that best demonstrates the abilities of the future civilization seen in the fictional work.
The Most Influential Powered Armor in Science Fiction
The Powered Armor from Starship Troopers (1959)
FWS states it many times, but it bears repeating herte: Starship Troopers is the founding classic of military science fiction, and the usage of powered armor in future wars. While E.E. Doc Smith basically invented powered armor for Lensman series of novels, Robert Heinlein refined the concept, forging the traditions that authors/creators of sci-fi continue to honor even today. Supporting the influence of the 1959 novel is that two of the other founding classics of military sci-fi literature Armor and the Forever War are either response to the Heinlein's book or inspirited by it. Even after 54 years, Heinlein's little political/military novel with soldiers in armor fighting bugs on other planets is still read, discussed, and attempted to be translated into different types of media.
The MJOLNIR Powered Armor From the HALO Universe (2001)
Iron Man Suits from Iron Man (1963)
In the 1963 Tales of Suspense #39, Stan Lee developed the most influential powered armor in popular media with the character of Tony Stark and his armored suit just four years after Starship Troopers. From 1968 with the first issue of the original series to all the way to 2013, Iron Man has continued to forge new fans and reinvigorate old fans, like me, with awesometacular movies, comics, and toys. For some reason, Iron Man is just one of those easily accessible properties that speaks some part within us that loves sweet fucking armor. This power of Iron Man to mint new fans, allows this suit to be the most iconic and recognized powered armor in the world and continues to be an influence on the next generations of powered armor in science fiction.
The Space Marine Power Armour from Warhammer 40K (1987)
Call me Chad, Mother Fucker! |
The Caterpillar P-5000 Work-Loader from ALIENS (1986)
Live-action powered armor is rare, even today with the level of special effects that is possible. However one of the most iconic live-action cimema examples of powered armor came in 1986, with James Cameron's legendary film ALIENS. Due to the skill of the director, the material, the success of the film, and the SFX associated with the powerloder, it became one of the most influential powered armor designs, spawning copies for decades. Speaking to the power of this design, companies actually looked at fielding real-world examples for use in factories and warehouses as a replacement for conventional forklifts. A few prototypes were shopped around at factory/foundry tradeshows in the late 1980's and early 1990's as possibilities for a production model . My father, who owned several grey ductile iron foundries, witnessed these prototypes and told my brother and I that he would buy one of the foundry. I had dreams of donning ALIENS style powered armor for years after that...damned broken promises! One of the cool elements about the ALIENS powerloader is that it's primary purpose was not a strictly military application. The powerloader was onboard the Sulaco as a futuristic forklift, and was only used in a military (and kick ass) way due a desperate situation.
Doctor Doom's Armor from the Marvel Universe (1962)
While most people believe that the first major comic book character who is used powered armor to achieve super status was Tony Stark with his Iron Man armor in 1963. However, Doctor Doom was first seen in Fantastic Four #5 in July of 1962. Unlike Tony Stark's invention, Doom's armor was originally magically forged by Tibetan Monks, and enhanced by Doom's superior intelligence. With these enhancements, Doom was gifted with onboard computers, flight, increased strength, enhanced vision, support systems. Doctor Doom has become an icon of evil characters in comics, along with have one of the most familiar powered armor designs.
The Fighting Suits from The Forever War (1975)
The Forever War took the concepts of the powered suit from Starship Troopers and took several steps further down the road:"the suit was fairly comfortable, but it gave you the odd feeling of simultaneously being a marionette and a puppeteer. You apply the impulse to move your leg and the suit picks it up and magnifies it and move your leg for you." While SST may have set down the traditions of powered armor in sci-fi, Forever War set the powered armor more into the context of space-based combat, very long-term usage, and evolution of the system over the course of the war. I especially enjoyed how the exhaust fins of the suit could effect the environment of the deep space training planet. In the book, the hot exhaust could melt frozen gas pockets causing death. With the success of the Forever War and the high regard that the novel is held in, it became a widely read novel that contained powered armor. I personally enjoy this novel much more than SST.
The Terran Marine Powered Armor from Starcraft Universe (1998)
Much like Iron Man and Metroid, sales success and excellence in game development led to your in-game powered armor to become a influential design. The Starcraft games sold nearly 10 million copies, spawned toys, books, manga, and alternated youth culture in South Korea. With this success and widespread disruption, came the popularity of the Terran Marine powered armor. This only increased when the teaser-trailer premiered in 2007, fully detailing Tychus Findlay's release from prison and back into his armor. Truly, this gives me geek chills every time.
T-51b Powered Infantry Armor from the Fallout games (1997)
When you google the term powered armor, the T-51b powered infantry armor from the Fallout games comes up many times, nearly as many as Iron Man and the Master Chief. Why? The popularity of the Fallout games is one factory,along with the design of the armor itself is very cool and post-nuclear holocaust setting that works in conjunction with the popularity of the suit. All of these factors have caused the Fallout T-51b suit to become to an influential design. I guess I need to play Fallout 3.
The CryNet Nanosuit from the Crysis Universe (2007)
The majority of powered armor seen in sci-fi is composed of "hard technology" that created futuristic battlesuit to resemble the Knights of Europe. In 2007, the video game Crysis would change that, and introduce the use of nanotechnology in conjunction with powered armor. Nano-tech is nothing new in the realm of sci-fi, but the way that the Crysis games incorporated the technology into the gameplay, the story, and even the alien invasion is pretty amazing. Also amazing was that the game and its portrayal of powered armor started a movement in sci-fi to include nano-tech in powered armor designs.
Links
A very good an in-dpeth article on the hard technology of powered armor http://www.dcr.net/~stickmak/JOHT/joht15poweredarmor.htm
Possible technological elements of the Nanosuit from Crysis
http://kotaku.com/5985111/the-real+life-science-behind-crysis-nanosuit
The reality of the exosuit from Elysium
http://gizmodo.com/how-close-are-we-to-elysium-style-exosuits-993706204
The history of real-world powered armor
http://www.popsci.com/node/20670
15mm minature powered armor troopers
http://dropshiphorizon.blogspot.com/p/cataloging-human-power-armor-in-15mm.html
Rocking cool and well-researched article, as always.
ReplyDeleteOne minor nit: it is spelled "OGRE/GEV" not "ORGE/GEV"
Ordinarily I would not care, except I did the artwork for the original game. ;)
Future War Stories: Fws Topics: Powered Armor >>>>> Download Now
Delete>>>>> Download Full
Future War Stories: Fws Topics: Powered Armor >>>>> Download LINK
>>>>> Download Now
Future War Stories: Fws Topics: Powered Armor >>>>> Download Full
>>>>> Download LINK 1Z
Dating for everyone is here: ❤❤❤ Link 1 ❤❤❤
DeleteDirect sexchat: ❤❤❤ Link 2 ❤❤❤
hj...
Corrected! Thanks for the heads up...and that is fucking cool that you did the artwork for the original game, and was some nice work. Did you design the powered armor?
ReplyDeleteGreat post, two notes
ReplyDeleteFirst, the military historian in me forces me to say that armoured plate was dropped for reasons of manoeuvrability and comfort, not that it couldn’t be made to stop a bullet (French cavalry at Waterloo wore metal breast plates that could stop most bullets,) much as US troops in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan sometimes ditch their body armour because its heavy and temperature is hot, they make their own risk v reward assessments (but then these are people who volunteer to be sent to a war zone so their risk v reward assessments are probably not to be trusted)
Second, my personal preference in my stories/world has been for a sort of exoskeleton/future combat systems/NBC hybrid, and they aren’t really infantry they’re more properly dragoons, living in their APCs until it’s appropriate/required for them to get out, and I think the some of the issues you highlight in your post are important, if you go too advanced in your power armour you might as well just use tanks, thinking of warhammer 40k here those suits must have little applicability in urban environments unless there is an imperial edict requiring dwellings to be built to be able to accommodate space marines
William, yes I did indeed design the powered armor you see in OGRE and GEV, but not in Battlesuit.
ReplyDeleteThe Ogre designs were based on the "Super Trooper" featured in the comic book The Incredible Hulk vol 163, with the addition of ball joints at the hip and shoulders and TV scanner eyes ("Orthicon goggles") instead of a transparent face plate.
The ditching of those of god-awful turtle vests was common in Vietnam, and the for the reasons you stated. I've tried on military ballistic armor a few time over the years, and it is amazing how heavy it is. I've added your comments to my upcoming blogpost on body armor!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't imagine humping that thing through the bush and sand.
I agree with you on the application of powered armor in CQB situations that plague urban environments. I've imagined urban warfare applied to the region of America where I live and FWS is based: Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, and this region is unique. Urban warfare here would be different for urban combat in regions like New York City, Tokyo, and London. I could only picture WH40K space marine charging down Time's Square!
NYRATH-I've got a Forgotten Classics blogpost on OGRE/GEV coming up, and I think we should do an interview.
Thanks to all for reading and commenting and I hope this blogpost lived up to the wait!
Hi Will,
ReplyDeletejust some remarks as a big fan of W40k..
I think that Tactical Dreadnought Armor would be more like heavy Class 1 powered armor, as it is same in concept as normal Power armor, just with heavier armor plates, stronger cybernetic muscles and power source, so no more copckit-like....
Regarding the jump packs of Space marines...they're big and they're used for mostly for short hops similar to Starship Troopers powered armor, so I think that could be in some way managable....but there would still be the problem with power source...
And the last rermark: Power armor from W40k isn't only for Adeptus Astartes. Some inquisitors and Sisters of Battle use it and they're normal humans ;)
Anyway you outdid yourself again...I didn't expect such a massive post even though the topic is rich in MSF. You have my greatest respect *BOW*
William, an interview? Certainly. You can contact me through my web site, or via Google+
ReplyDeleteI will modify the section on WH40K, I should have caught that since I have every single GWS Codex...dumb of me. Thanks for the kind words! This was the blogpost I've been dwelling on since the founding of FWS, and it became much easier after I researched the topic of Powered Armor for my novel.
ReplyDeleteThere will not be a blogpost this large for another month...need to recharge. I think that blogpost will be the one on FTL drive systems.
Again, thanks for the read!
Great post as always! By the way, I think there may be another good reason for a soldier to be nude in their armor (at least the class one variant). If you're going to be in that armor for any amount of time, sooner or later you're going to have take a piss or a crap and there aren't any bathrooms around especially if your on a hostile planet. So, your suit could recycle your urine for drinking water and either simply remove the other waste, or take the WH40K approach of turning it into food. But relieving yourself in clothes (at least for number 2) would sort of hold it in place and not let it be recycled. Just something to consider. I love your content, please keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteI do believe you are right, any long-term powered armor, especially those on hostile atmosphere exoplanets without any Starbuck's would need to be similar to a Stillsuit from DUNE...after all, no one likes to crap in their boxers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words! FWS will continue onwards, I couldn't imagining stopping work on FWS, especially with its increased popularity.
Hey William, just another fan of FWS. I love your content and I'd to get your opinion on something. I'm writing a MSF story and I want my power armor to be as practical as possible. I was concerned about the potential problems with the standard helmet used in most sci fi, such as the weight of the helt (a concern spawned by John Steakleys Armor, in which Felix comments at one point that falling without power will cause the helmet of his suit to break his neck), and the vulnerability of the neck area. My solution was to instead extend the torso to cover the head area as well, sort of giving the suit a rounded top. I'd like to know if you think this would be more effective or if the standard helmet is better. I love your content keep up the great work and thank you for inspiring me the write MSF!
ReplyDeleteYou are the reason that I founded FWS three years ago...to be a resource for MSF fans and creators.
ReplyDeleteI ran into the same issue with my own powered armor in my first book, and the only way to solve the issue is what you have come up with...extending the torso. Just look at the AMP suit from AVATAR...where did the arrow go? Right to the face, where the armor is the weakest. The only drawback to the torso, is more of a lack of natural visibility. Much like a supercar, you can see out the front arch of the suit, but the sides and rear are dependent on sensors. If the sensors go out, the operator is at more of a loss...just look at the Riot Mechs from the Riddick games. Thus, is the nature of designing military equipment, pros and cons, but that gives fictional machinery a nice realistic edge.
Hope that helps...keep on writing, and let me know if you need any more help from FWS.
Warrior Suit - Standard for interstellar defense troopers, and designed to able to function in a variety of situations, though combat is still the primary one.
ReplyDeleteScout Suit - A lighter variant of the warrior suit, though not as well armored, it can move at three times the speed and is equipped with a cloaking field. Ideal for recon forces.
Support Suit V1 - A variation of the Warrior suit, the Support Suit sacrifices some of the extra armor and weapons of the standard warrior suit to make room for extra ammo and spare fuel cells. This allows it to resupply friendly forces in field with both ammunition and energy. An ideal squad has at least two support suits.
Support suit V2 - Another version of the support suit, the second version has the same armor and weapon systems, but instead makes room for extra communication equipment. Although not used often, troopers in this suit can prove vital on worlds where communication between ship and ground forces is limited by magnetic fields or weather.
Command Suit - An improved version of the warrior suit, boasting superior energy supply and sensors. Though because of the greater cost it is only issued to officers.
M.A.W Armor - The Mechanized Assault Warrior Armor is an extremely powerful armor deployed only for the most dire operations that require maximum firepower. It's armor and weapons trump that of standard armor, and it is surprisingly nimble. Despite it's incredible effectiveness in field, the great cost of manufacturing and maintaining them makes them a rare sight. Most ships will only carry three in reserve in case of unforeseen problems.
I just felt like sharing this XD
No worries! Please share! FWS is all about writers and creators of MSF bring new ideas to the genre. I like the labels for the powered armor
ReplyDeleteHey William, I was wondering, which APS do you think is more likely to be built? Type One or Type Two? I'm writing two different stories and I wanted to decide by which armor is more likely to exist. And in case you ask I am too stubborn to flip a coin, and I just wanted your opinion because I love your content.
ReplyDeleteHey, thanks! FWS is here to serve. I went with Type-II for my story based on the environment and imageI wanted to project, which was based in the 27th century. I think, based on the research done thus far, that the Type-I, like what was seen Elysium is more likely than Type-II. I think that will change with the advancement of robotics. Type-I could also be helped, in the near future, with the development of cybernetics. If your story is set in the near future, than Type-I is your best bet
ReplyDeleteHope that helps!
Powered armour should be viewed as a force multiplier.
ReplyDeleteIt won't make you undisputed master of war but with adequate training will make you surely much more harder to kill. It will always have severe psychological impact on the enemy at first, mainly becouse CLASS 2, wich has more sense, can wield several different weapon systems and with skilled operator (optionally with neural interface) can deliver equivalent firepower of a fireteam at least and can't be put out of action without use of special purpouse weapons. CLASS 1 in most cases are to complicated and overenginered, especially when their design clearly suggests they should be standard issue. Some exoskeleton with modular addons, neural interface for better control/sit. awarness and done. For your typical future G.I. So enemy is bound to take seriuos casualities each time when facing power clad soldiers in situation when he doesn't have any.
Why concept is popular in MSF, it's becouse of weight limit of your dropships. Tank is heavy and can be in one place at a time, in space of one tank you can have several PA equipped soldiers who are more effective in low intesity warfare than conventional tanks. Due to sheer price od such PAs they will be fielded in smaller number, perheaps in support of conventional mech./motor./airmobile infantry. Units would be composed of highly skilled veterans and used for quick flanking manouvers or creating breaches in enemys lines to be quickly used by follow up forces. PAs will be very dependant on supply chains though. Will be effective in open warfare but only short periods of time, then will become multimillon worth pices of junk when run out of juice. The best example on how logistics would influence their operational capability is shown in "Leagacy of Aldaneta" series by John Ringo, called also "The Possleen War".
And remeber that Powered Armour is only a game changer when fighting with enemy who doesn't posses enough weapons and skills to compete on 1:1 basis in open combat. Otherwise, only your skills and experience would matter.
I need to read John Ringo's Possleen War novels, that is third mention of the novels this week along! Your theory is correct about APS being a force multiplier, and who and how they could be piloted. Excellent comment!
ReplyDeleteI'd hate to burst a bubble but, that image at the top isn't power armor. That's an EXO, one of the races from Destiny, and it's a robot. Other than that, excellent post!
ReplyDeleteDamn! You're right! At the time of the writing of this blogpost, Bungie had released the image, but no information, and I thought it was a cool picture for the title image...I may change it
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteReading most of this, it is safe to assume that for the most part, the CLASS-I Powered Armor would fall under what TVTropes would call "Awesome but impractical" whereas CLASS-II and III would be more practical. Although for the most part, as you pointed out, it seems mostly to just be a psychological deterrent, unless you happened to get something like a PTS (Point Defense System) to deal with rockets and the like for CLASS-II and III. Just how I view it, anyways.
ReplyDeletePDS* No idea where or why I got PTS. And what I am referring to by PDS is something like the TROPHY system.
DeleteClass II and Class III are more possible when considering the technical challenges associated with deploying MILSPEC APS. For some reason, point defense systems interest me...thanks for reading and commenting!
ReplyDeleteThis idea, transformed into one of the most iconic elements of battlefield technology in military science fiction, the powered armor suit, allowing one soldier to become many. After the idea of the this futuristic armor was established by E.E. Doc Smith and Robert Heinlein, Japanese Anime/Manga along with American video games/comic books would jump on the concept and expanding it that continues to this day.
ReplyDeleteVipguildwars2gold.com
Buy GW2 Gold
Thank you for sharing valuable information. Nice post. I enjoyed reading this post. The whole blog is very nice found some good stuff and good information here Thanks..Also visit my page. Western Leaf Electronics We promise with Western Leaf’s line of products, each product is innovative and original. We address your needs and go backwards until we find the solution.
ReplyDeleteExcellent post - I was googling future soldier and powered armour and exoskeleton for battle and got to your page ! Good work !
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind words! Pull up a chair, grab a beer, and stay awhile.
ReplyDeleteExcellent publish - I was searching upcoming knight and operated shield and exoskeleton for fight and got to your page ! Great work ! Clara Bush
ReplyDeleteWill, again you have out done yourself with research. I love what you have put together.
ReplyDeleteExcellent Article! of course robonaut is wrong and to the people who coined that term it should be astrobot.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work.
it's looking just amazing post,
ReplyDeleteArmored Vehicles
Have you ever read the short story Warbots by Larry Todd. I actually came across your blog while looking for the story. I read it like 25 years ago, and a redditor recently helped me find it. It was my first exposure to powered armor. Here's a link to it. http://documents.mx/documents/the-warbots-by-larry-todd.html
ReplyDeleteThanks for the information and links you shared this is so should be a useful and quite informative.
ReplyDeleteBulletproof
William: Wouldn't it be more realistic in writing (I say this out of a need for advice, for normal soldiers to be supplied with pressurized combat armor, while only a select few, specially trained agents receive the more expensive and harder to build SMART armors? My own fictional world involves more of a corporate espionage conflict than a flat out war, at least at first, and I'm just wondering if it would be a good idea to take costs of something so complex into account, or if that's overthinking things. I loved reading this blog post, and am really impressed with eh research you've put in.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words. I think it would be realistic that only a few get the SMART armor, but you to sell this to the audience to justify it. I do think it a good angle to take on including cost on items like this, especially considering that you are dealing with corporations. The CLASS-II APS armor in my novel was the mark of elite operators.
ReplyDeleteGood luck on your book!
Awesome Site!!!!
ReplyDeletegreat site, and awesome explanation! no less to say, maybe some opinion about powered armor in paractical future:
ReplyDelete-exoskeleton, mass produced for specialized foot soldier,aside from enchancing user ability, some attachment like optical sight allowed for IFF detection, thermal(detecting living things ), infrared vision, and rangefinder (seriously,estimating range are the one big problem) ,life support module (assume the one used this get hit, he got chance to fight/ retreat) and some body armor and ballistic shield (shield are used for open terrain, in case no protection from environment at all)
exoskeleton are great, cause do not hinder mobility (allowing to prone, roll, etc). but the most important aspect are durability, that's mean this machine will work even treated as badly as ak's rifle. this one need to be as cheap as possible,neither to replaced or repaired. modular will be good option if possible.
-class one powered armor looks best for EOD job,since this one protect entire bodies, or used for rescue operation from combat zone. assume there are some individual need to be extracted, they simply put him/her inside this machine, and computer based class one allow this armor to be remote controlled, so the user don't need to operate manually. and in case of emergency, he can escape as fast as possible from this machine
-class two may be widespread for support role, but didn't replace tanks from battlefield. size smaller from average tanks. they didn't need to walk to target, airlift from helicopter/ airdrop from plane will works too
-class three maybe less used, since big sillohuette offer big target, but if this one used, the thing this machine will looks like transformers robot (can shift from oridinary vehicle for speed and robot version for difficult terrain use).this machine will carry large artillery/ ballistic missile
well just some opinion though
oya, forgot to add, this powered armor thing not a standard infantry carry, but more optional equipment for specific purpose
DeleteNice article and awesome site :D
ReplyDeleteTo be honest I was surprised to not see "Heavy Gear"'s homonymous battle suits mentioned anywhere. They're particularly awesome on account of their propulsion (gasoline powered endothermic engine, called V-engine) and their onboard AI helper (Optical Neural NETwork), which is capable of acquiring habits/procedures from their pilot and environment.
Nice work anyway :D
Oh I loved Heavy Gear! I never played the games but I devoured the books. Heavy Gear's Gears are among the most plausible mecha out there and only the Neural Net is "magical" (but less so as technology advances). Dream Pod 9 considered EVERYTHING about Gears (and Striders): including the logistics to support them and side uses, like duels and gladiator combat.
DeleteVery detailed and much needed for fans, too good
ReplyDeleteInteresting articles. Too bad that the mispelled, misused and (often) just missing words, combined with the sloppy grammar make it nearly unreadable. And this from a "published author?" Does anybody pay to read their work? I wouldn't.
ReplyDeleteFWS is much like opinions, it is free.
ReplyDeleteTwo comments. First on the Adeptus Astartes/"Space Marines". Their standard issue armor is definitely a Class-1 by your definition, but Tactical Dreadnought/Terminator armor is sandwiched somewhere between 1 and 2, as you still wear it, but you need special training for use and it carries nastier weapons like Storm Bolters, autocannons, and even missile pods. Also in Dawn of War II, while your guys in normal armor can take cover behind rocks and such, trying to do that with Terminators turns it into dust, so you're better off using THEM as cover. Dreadnoughts, might be a three, except they're piloted by critically injured Battle Brothers, like the Dragoons from Starcraft. Secondly, the EVAs from Evangelion are by no means Powered Armor. They're full-fledged mecha, they could go toe to toe with a Jaeger easily.
ReplyDeleteSize is the main factor in determining whether something is Powered Armor or Mecha, not how they're controlled, so a Class-3 to me would have some kind of cockpit but still be small enough to reasonably deploy alongside or in place of infantry and have built in or externally mounted weaponry. Or something like the Motoslaves from BGC, power armor for powered armor.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI had a tough time "designing" the powered armor for my novel Stardust. Ironically, the "E-Frames" (Exo-Frames) are only appearing as I write the final quarter of the novel. Like Aliens or Avatar, it needed to be believable, no matter how small the role. This article helped me a lot, though.
ReplyDeleteI decided to go with a barely-Class 2, which is the biggest that can fit inside a dropship. Since a dropship needs to reach orbit, both the dropship and the E-Frame have weight at a premium and are made of folded silicon-carbid fabric binded by diamond-like carbon. The E-Frame is powered by a traveling-wave fission reactor (this type of reactor does not need maintenance, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveling_wave_reactor) and shielded with finely folded tungsten foil to provide neutron and gamma shielding with grazing incidence rather than sheer mass. The heat from the reactor drives a sterling engine and thermo-electric converters and gives gives it acrobat-like agility and unlimited power for lasers and railguns, but makes the interior oppressively hot. The pilots wear cooling suits what double a shear-hardening liquid armor (https://science.howstuffworks.com/liquid-body-armor1.htm). Only women of a specific height and weight are allowed into the Orbital Drop Strategic Troopers because the E-Frames are cramped and every gram counts for the dropship's delta-v budgets.
Unlike a lot of powered armor settings, E-Frames are not common in Stardust: they are expensive, complex, and their use is limited to space forces and even then their mission is to destroy defenses and build (or take over) factories to supply conventional forces who will arrive later (rather than carry all that stuff through space).
Holy shit all these spelling mistakes. You should really get a beta reader.
ReplyDeleteInteresting that you would choose knees as a target for snipers. Personally I don't see it as a good idea. Yes they by necessity have to be less armored than the rest of the armor, but they are also small targets. More importantly they are some of the most mobile points on a human body. As a human moves their knees move forward, backward, up, down, and sometimes side to side. They also change speeds in which they are moving, especially as terrain gets worse. Even while standing still people shuffle there feet, and thus there knees, very frequently (though admittedly the armor may be designed to enter a sleep mode while immobile to conserve power, so this may not work on some armors). As far as I can tell the hip joints would be much more ideal targets. They will suffer from similar armor restrictions as knees, will be more mechanically complex, and therefor more fragile, in order to accommodate another axis of rotation, and are located on the torso, making them a more stable target.
ReplyDeleteNICE acticle very help full me thank you
ReplyDeleteNICE acticle very help full me thank you
ReplyDeleteVERY HELP FULL ARTICLE THANK YOU
ReplyDeletethis content is latterly helpful for me and thanks for sharing this amazing content with us.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.starepisodes.net/yeh-rishta-kya-kehlata-hai/
Very good article! We will be linking to this great
ReplyDeletecontent on our site. Keep up the good writing.
Feel free to visit my page -풀싸롱
You forgot the Y-Rack grenade/mine launchers for the powered armors in the Skinny city raid in Starship troopers. They were sent to auto deploy two explosive munitions "on the bounce" of the jump jets.
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your initiative and your blog approach it helps many people like myself.
ReplyDeletedo visit my site for new and updated software : VovSoft VCF to TXT Converter
Thanks to share this content express vpn crack
ReplyDeleteSuper-Duper site! I am Loving it!! Will come back again, Im taking your feed also, Thanks.tenorshare-4ddig-crack-full-download/
ReplyDeleteBottom line is that blogging as a career is a great option if you want to earn more money, without having to wait years to do so and to be your own boss. A career in blogging allows you to have your own schedule, work from anywhere and have more time to spend with your family and loved ones.
ReplyDeleteDigidna imazing crack
Really useful information, I've seen on the internet, need something like this more from more people posted. Keep posts like this. make me understand about it:FileMaker Pro
ReplyDeleteI really thank you for your information. This article has really peaked my interest. I am going to bookmark your site and keep checking for new details about once a week. ApowerMirror Crack
ReplyDeleteJust desire to say your article is as astonishing. The clarity
ReplyDeleteon your submit is just great and that i can assume you are an expert in this subject.
Fine together with your permission allow me to clutch your RSS feed to
stay up to date with imminent post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please carry on the enjoyable
work.
사설경마
magosucowep
This is an amazing site with good content and information.It is the best crack software site for all Mac and Windows users worldwide.
ReplyDeleteFonePaw iPhone Data Recovery
This is amzaing blog thanks for that great information. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteadobe-dreamweaver-crack
combin-crack/
vray-crack
This is a great site with good content and information. It is the best crack site for all Mac and Windows users across the world.
ReplyDeletecrackcool.com
You have done a great job on this article. It’s very readable and highly intelligent. You have even managed to make it understandable and easy to read.
ReplyDeletecrackrepack.com/
hi, I think this is one of the most important info for me. And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The web site style is great, the articles is really nice.
ReplyDeleteKutools for Excel Crack
Many thanks for the shared this informative and interesting post with us.
ReplyDeleteTipard DVD Creator
You have ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have a great day. Bye
ReplyDelete무료야설
휴게텔
출장안마
타이마사지
Thanks for sharing your knowledge to install & crack the Time Tables, but you need to update it now. because there is a 2022 version available now.
ReplyDeletenoteburner-spotify-music-converter-crack
https://gamebegin.xyz It is possible to practice on your own. A pitching machine enables you to establish the rate in the ball. By loading several baseballs to the device, you are able to process hitting without having a pitcher. This electronic digital equipment is perfect for these who want to training baseball by itself. Pitching machines might be gathered at your nearby sporting products store.
ReplyDeleteコイン カジノ The thing is them on periodicals as well as on TV, women and men who seem like their forearms and hip and legs will explode as his or her muscle tissue are extremely massive! There is not any will need for you to take the body to that particular levels in the event you don't prefer to, because the easy methods in this article will help you to construct muscle inside a wholesome way.
ReplyDeletehttps://gamezoom.xyz Obtaining a exercise lover can drastically improve your muscle tissue-building final results. Your spouse might be a beneficial method to obtain motivation for adhering to your training session period, and pressing one to optimize your endeavours as you workout. Having a dependable lover to determine with will also help make you stay harmless because you will usually possess a spotter.
ReplyDeleteI am really happy to say it’s an interesting post to read. I learn new information from your article , you are doing a great job. Keep it up 중국야동넷
ReplyDeletePlease visit once. I leave my blog address below
야설
중국야동넷
Your blog is so amazing and informative. This was an excellent article. Thank you for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteNoteBurner Spotify Music Converter
Future War Stories: Fws Topics: Powered Armor >>>>> Download Now
ReplyDelete>>>>> Download Full
Future War Stories: Fws Topics: Powered Armor >>>>> Download LINK
>>>>> Download Now
Future War Stories: Fws Topics: Powered Armor >>>>> Download Full
>>>>> Download LINK
Dating for everyone is here: ❤❤❤ Link 1 ❤❤❤
ReplyDeleteDirect sexchat: ❤❤❤ Link 2 ❤❤❤
v8...
Paint Tool SAI 2 Crack is the best tool that can edit photos. paint tool sai full version includes infinite capacity that helps to edit your photos very efficiently.Mix Craft Crack Pro Studio
ReplyDeleteNi Multisim Crack’s biggest and most powerful program is available for students and teachers. This is the best program for analog.NI Multisim Crack
ReplyDeleteGreat delivery. Sound arguments. Keep up the amazing work.
ReplyDelete카지노사이트
Great website. Plenty of helpful information here. 바카라사이트인포
ReplyDeleteIt is not my first time to go to see this website, i am browsing this web site daily and take good facts from here every day. 바둑이게임
ReplyDeleteGreat blog right here! Also your site a lot up fast!
ReplyDelete바카라사이트윈
Windows 10 Activator apparatus which can be utilized to actuate the Windows. Rather than just initiating Windows, this instrument is additionally ready to enact Microsoft Office. As you realize that there are a ton of different activators accessible on the web, which guarantee that they incorporate no infection. Windows 10 Activator
ReplyDeleteI have seen your work, i like your efforts. Please keep it up. WPS Office Premium Crack
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteslot siteleri
ReplyDeletekralbet
betpark
tipobet
betmatik
kibris bahis siteleri
poker siteleri
bonus veren siteler
mobil ödeme bahis
F3FMQE
kralbet
ReplyDeletebetpark
tipobet
slot siteleri
kibris bahis siteleri
poker siteleri
bonus veren siteler
mobil ödeme bahis
betmatik
L8CSMV
I genuinely enjoy studying on this internet site, it contains fantastic articles.
ReplyDeletei love your blog
ReplyDeletei love your blog
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteAmazing post written. It shows your effort and dedication.
Thanks for sharing such a nice post.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI discovered your blog while scanning for the updates, I am glad to be here.
ReplyDeleteThanks for providing great informative blog, keep posting.
camtasia Studio crack is a powerful screen recorder.
ReplyDeletecorelDraw serial number free download
ReplyDeleteableton live keygen is a audio mixing software.
ReplyDeleteLime kiln dust Tampa, Texas, is a valuable byproduct used for soil stabilization and construction, enhancing environmental sustainability in the region.
ReplyDeleteBatman
ReplyDeleteArdahan
Adıyaman
Antalya
Giresun
61GAY
Indulge in the sweet temptation of buy chocolate in makka, where a variety of options await you to satisfy your cravings. Explore local shops and markets to find the perfect treat.
ReplyDeleteKocaeli
ReplyDeleteDenizli
Bartın
Kocaeli
Adana
PJT3
ankara parça eşya taşıma
ReplyDeletetakipçi satın al
antalya rent a car
antalya rent a car
ankara parça eşya taşıma
UTVF
As someone considering divorce in New York, I find this blog post invaluable. It's comforting to have access to such thorough and reliable information about verified complaints.
ReplyDeleteDenuncia Verificada Nueva York Divorcio
https://istanbulolala.biz/
ReplyDelete4ZD
tekirdağ evden eve nakliyat
ReplyDeletekocaeli evden eve nakliyat
yozgat evden eve nakliyat
osmaniye evden eve nakliyat
amasya evden eve nakliyat
PİQDWR
urfa evden eve nakliyat
ReplyDeletemalatya evden eve nakliyat
burdur evden eve nakliyat
kırıkkale evden eve nakliyat
kars evden eve nakliyat
3O4
I got a lot of information about fashion from your blogs. Please keep publishing them. Winter Sale Jackets
ReplyDeleteA vivid scene indeed! In Abu Dhabi, top fit out company Abu Dubai can bring your visions to life just as powerfully, creating stunning and immersive environments that tell your unique story.
ReplyDelete719D2
ReplyDeletedeca durabolin for sale
primobolan for sale
order steroid cycles
buy sarms
buy anapolon oxymetholone
turinabol
buy winstrol stanozolol
pharmacy steroids for sale
buy clenbuterol
F120F
ReplyDeleteTokat Şehirler Arası Nakliyat
Denizli Şehirler Arası Nakliyat
Bitrue Güvenilir mi
Çerkezköy Kurtarıcı
Sakarya Evden Eve Nakliyat
İstanbul Evden Eve Nakliyat
Bitcoin Kazanma
Osmaniye Parça Eşya Taşıma
Samsun Şehir İçi Nakliyat
0F69D
ReplyDeleteKeçiören Fayans Ustası
Niğde Parça Eşya Taşıma
İstanbul Şehirler Arası Nakliyat
Malatya Parça Eşya Taşıma
Ünye Çatı Ustası
Ünye Oto Boya
Çorum Parça Eşya Taşıma
Urfa Lojistik
Batman Parça Eşya Taşıma
C5F19
ReplyDeleteKayseri Parça Eşya Taşıma
Adana Şehirler Arası Nakliyat
İstanbul Lojistik
Çorlu Lojistik
Sakarya Parça Eşya Taşıma
Batman Lojistik
Erzurum Şehirler Arası Nakliyat
Tokat Parça Eşya Taşıma
Çerkezköy Boya Ustası
53097
ReplyDeleteErzincan Şehirler Arası Nakliyat
Giresun Lojistik
Pancakeswap Güvenilir mi
Amasya Parça Eşya Taşıma
Manisa Evden Eve Nakliyat
Sinop Evden Eve Nakliyat
Tekirdağ Cam Balkon
İzmir Lojistik
Giresun Şehirler Arası Nakliyat
49C98
ReplyDeletebinance komisyon indirimi %20
2AB4D
ReplyDeletezonguldak sohbet muhabbet
Batman Canlı Sohbet Siteleri
sivas sesli sohbet uygulamaları
görüntülü sohbet odaları
Samsun Bedava Sohbet Odaları
Adıyaman Canlı Görüntülü Sohbet Siteleri
Nevşehir Rastgele Sohbet Odaları
kilis mobil sohbet odaları
muğla rastgele sohbet
Regarding the management of waste products during long-term assignments: astronauts face the same issue, and they simply wear adult diapers. Missions requiring sealed full-body duty gear are a dirty business.
ReplyDeletePurpose-engineered supersoldiers like Adeptus Astartes probably have permanent catheters and colostomies built into their modifications to make collection interfaces easier. Think about that next time you play Space Marine.
F619A
ReplyDelete----
----
----
----
----
matadorbet
----
----
----
شركة مكافحة النمل الابيض بالاحساء pzoUN3Eln9
ReplyDelete