美国陆军利用外骨骼打造“超级战士”

US Army Looks to Exoskeletons to Build 'Super Soldiers'

The United States Army is spending millions of dollars in experimental exoskeleton technology to make soldiers stronger. It is what experts say is part of a push into cutting-edge equipment for a new generation of “super-soldiers.”

Lockheed Martin Corporation is developing the technology. The company is using a license¹ from B-Temia Inc., a Canada-based business. B-Temia first developed the exoskeletons to help people who had difficulty walking because of medical conditions like multiple sclerosis.

Worn over clothing, the battery-operated equipment uses several sensors², artificial intelligence and other technology to aid natural movements.

For the U.S. military, the appeal of such technology is clear.

Currently, when soldiers are sent to war zones, their bodies must carry a lot of heavy equipment, such as body armor and advanced radios. Altogether, that can weigh anywhere from 40 to 64 kilograms, when the suggested weight limit is just 23 kilograms.

“That means when people...show up to the fight, they’re fatigued,” said Paul Scharre of the Center for a New American Security.

Scharre has helped lead a series of studies on exoskeletons and other advanced equipment. The biggest problem “with infantry⁴ troops is they’re carrying too much weight,” he said.

Lockheed Martin announced last week it won a $6.9 million award from the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center to study and make the exoskeleton. It is called ONYX.

Keith Maxwell is with Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. He said people who wore the exoskeletons showed far more strength than other people in his company’s tests.

“You get to the fight fresh. You’re not worn out,” Maxwell said.

Maxwell, who demonstrated a prototype, said each exoskelelton was expected to cost in the tens of thousands of dollars.

The United States is not the only country looking at exoskeleton technology.

Samuel Bendett is with the Center for Naval⁵ Analyses , a federally financed research and development center. He said Russia and China were also investing in exoskeleton technologies.

Russia is working on several kinds of exoskeletons, including one tested in Syria, Bendett said.

The exoskeleton is part of a larger look at next-generation technologies, including using robotic soldiers to help resupply the military in war zones.

I’m Susan Shand.

Words in This Story

exoskeleton – n. a firm outer covering for the body that provides both support and protection.

license – n. an official document that gives you permission to do, use, or have something

battery – n. a device that is placed inside a machine (such as a car) to supply it with electricity

artificial intelligence – n. an area of computer science dealing⁶ with the reproduction of intelligent human behavior in computers

zone – n. an area

fatigue³ – adj. tired

prototype – n. an example

1 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

2 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句

3 fatigue   

n.疲劳，劳累

参考例句：

• The old lady can't bear the fatigue of a long journey.这位老妇人不能忍受长途旅行的疲劳。
• I have got over my weakness and fatigue.我已从虚弱和疲劳中恢复过来了。

4 infantry   

n.[总称]步兵(部队)

参考例句：

• The infantry were equipped with flame throwers.步兵都装备有喷火器。
• We have less infantry than the enemy.我们的步兵比敌人少。

5 naval   

adj.海军的，军舰的，船的

参考例句：

• He took part in a great naval battle.他参加了一次大海战。
• The harbour is an important naval base.该港是一个重要的海军基地。

6 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。