Exoskeletons for industrial workers

[BehindBlueI's]

Robotic suit gives shipyard workers super strength - health - 04 August 2014 - New Scientist

Headline is off, as usual, as right now the capacity is about 70 lbs, but the developers want to get it to 220 lbs before its release. It has a 3 hour battery life currently.

 

[ghuns]

Thanks. But I'll wait for the Caterpillar P-5000 Work Loader...

Weyland Corp won't patent it for another 11 years, but I can wait.

 

[BigBoxaJunk]

Thanks. But I'll wait for the Caterpillar P-5000 Work Loader...

Weyland Corp won't patent it for another 11 years, but I can wait.

Plus the P-5000 comes with a cutting torch, if I remember correctly.

 

[ghuns]

Plus the P-5000 comes with a cutting torch, if I remember correctly.

And a nitrogen fuel cell beats a puny 3 hour battery life.

 

[eric001]

3 hour battery life is a start... but not necessarily a good one. Granted, the P-5000 might be a little too big and cumbersome for the application. Or, it might just be that they haven't figured out yet how to build something that big and keep the costs down to something resembling reasonable. My thought would be to try to compromise and build something in between in size...and either run it off a fuel cell, or maybe even a small engine with a decently sized fuel tank. I was thinking about how electric generators have gotten much better in the last couple decades--couldn't a relatively small generator pump out enough electricity for running hydraulic motors? Imagine something that is part P-5000, part whatever those things were in Avatar, and part the suit shown in the article. Or am I overthinking this completely because I've actually had enough coffee for a change???

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

Wouldn't an old school Sci fi fan call any of those a WALDO?

 

[Disposable Heart]

Thanks. But I'll wait for the Caterpillar P-5000 Work Loader...

Weyland Corp won't patent it for another 11 years, but I can wait.

Don't care what anyone thinks or the law: If they ever made those, I would pack my pockets with my manifesto and shrooms, get loaded, steal one, and trash the port areas with it. Throw hot dog carts at police cars, chase panicking children and their parents, use light poles like an Indonesian fighting sticks... Are you not entertained? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! IS THIS NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?! SPANIARD! SPANIARD! SPAINIA...

Opps, forgot, I got shot by a cop through the unenclosed cab of the unit... Well, there goes that idea...

 

[CTC B4Z]

Could use One of those to wipe my ass

 

[Leadeye]

This technology, like a lot of others, is just waiting on the next great condensation of regulated power.

The original Robert Heinlein Mobile Infantry.

 

[1911ly]

Don't care what anyone thinks or the law: If they ever made those, I would pack my pockets with my manifesto and shrooms, get loaded, steal one, and trash the port areas with it. Throw hot dog carts at police cars, chase panicking children and their parents, use light poles like an Indonesian fighting sticks... Are you not entertained? ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED?! IS THIS NOT WHY YOU ARE HERE?! SPANIARD! SPANIARD! SPAINIA...

Opps, forgot, I got shot by a cop through the unenclosed cab of the unit... Well, there goes that idea...

I was with ya right till the end, then I got a tear in my eye.

Seriously though, It's pretty cool technology. And all is good and well till someone drops a man hole cover on there toes!

 

[CathyInBlue]

I could see the P-5000 being doable right now, but the power would have to be supplied by a 480VAC 3-phase feed from an overhead gantry, effectively tethering the unit to within the confines of the warehouse.

 

[poptab]

Sorry to burst your guys bubble but they won't be controlled by humans directly.

They already have automated port dockyard bots.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WxXZQ7emHC0