The press service of the state corporation "Rostec" has published footage of tests of a passive army exoskeleton.
In the video, a fighter equipped in such a product easily runs, moves on the ground, drives a car and simulates the conduct of hostilities.
It is reported that with a weight of 6 kg, the exoskeleton can carry loads of up to 60 kg.
"The exoskeleton is hidden under the equipment, does not hinder movement and relieves the musculoskeletal system ... Joints can be blocked for a long time in a certain position," the video says in the credits.
The development of exoskeletons in the state corporation is carried out by Rostec - Trusted Platforms - Robotic Complexes (RT-DP RK) in cooperation with the Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering (TsNIITOCHMASH) and the Central Research Institute of Robotics and Technical Cybernetics (TsNII RTK).
On September 28, Maxim Skokov, Deputy General Director for Special Projects of the RT-DP of the Republic of Kazakhstan, said in an interview with RIA Novosti that the exoskeleton created for the needs of the Armed Forces can increase the endurance of a serviceman by unloading muscles and increase his combat capabilities.
“We put a serious emphasis on ergonomics - the exoskeleton should not hinder the movement of a soldier, and there are certain successes in this direction.
A soldier equipped with our skeleton can sit down, run, lie down, roll into cover, and so on without additional effort, ”Skokov said.
The RT-DP RK expects that as the exoskeleton improves, the RF Ministry of Defense will formulate clearer technical requirements for the product.
In parallel, the company is working on the Shieldik project for the Russian Guard, the FSO and the FSB.
“In the special forces during the assault there is an operative carrying a large armored shield in front of him, he covers himself with it and his comrades walking behind.
His task is to move slowly, call fire on himself and protect other special forces.
The weight of such a shield can reach up to 45 kg, the exoskeleton "Shield" allows to reduce this load, "Skokov explained the meaning of the development.
According to the deputy head of the RT-DP of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian army needs three types of exoskeletons: a marching one - for fast movement during a combat mission, an engineering one - for solving sedentary tasks, for example, typical of sappers, and a cargo one - for carrying out rigging work.
"Tested in real combat conditions"
Currently, Russian enterprises are working on prototypes of active and passive exoskeletons.
The products differ greatly in characteristics from each other, but, according to experts, in the future they will significantly increase the physical capabilities of military personnel and are likely to become an element of a new generation of equipment.
“The most anticipated part of the“ soldier of the future ”costume may be a passive exoskeleton.
It has already been tested in real combat conditions and has proven its effectiveness.
The exoskeleton increases the physical capabilities of the fighter, provides protection for the joints, the spine and can be adjusted in height and completeness for a particular soldier, "the Rostec website says.
Conceptual outfit of the future
© rostec.ru
Experts expect that in the near future, various versions of the passive exoskeleton, which is characterized by the absence of electronic devices, and relative simplicity in manufacturing and operation, should be widely used in the Russian troops.
This type of exoskeleton is a lever-articulated mechanical device that mimics human joints.
It allows you to unload the musculoskeletal system of a serviceman when carrying weapons, ammunition, backpacks and various equipment.
Such a product can be an indispensable assistant during long marches and assault operations.
Earlier, one of the promising passive domestic exoskeletons was presented by TsNIITOCHMASH engineers at the international forum "Army-2018".
As RT said at the time on the sidelines of the exhibition, the chief designer of the Moscow Region enterprise for the life support system of military equipment for military personnel, Oleg Faustov, the demonstrated development makes it possible to carry an additional load of up to 50 kg.
“The current exoskeleton is designed for specific tasks.
If a soldier has to spend the whole day on his feet, then, of course, he will need it.
For example, it will definitely come in handy for sappers, whose protective suit sometimes weighs up to 80 kg, "Faustov explained.
TsNIITOCHMASH passive exoskeleton is made of carbon fiber - a durable and lightweight composite material.
Depending on the configuration, the weight of the device can be from 4 to 8 kg.
The sample is reported to be donned within one minute and removed in 20 seconds.
However, the use of the exoskeleton requires a two-week training course, which will allow the soldier to get used to it.
Also, the product does not allow its wearer to make sudden movements and land.
The active exoskeleton, which TsNIITOCHMASH is also working on, is a more complex type of army ammunition with its own advantages and disadvantages.
The strong point of such a product is the increased payload (over 100 kg).
The fighter practically does not experience fatigue and does not lose maneuverability on the battlefield.
At the same time, at the moment, an active exoskeleton is a complex and expensive sample, consisting of many auxiliary structures, a battery, electric drives and other units.
Such a product can be controlled via a neural network.
It is assumed that passive and active exoskeletons will be integrated into a set of promising military equipment that is being developed by the domestic defense industry.
"Will make the soldier's work easier"
According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, exoskeletons with a payload of 50 kg are already in service with Russian sappers.
Specialists of the Military Scientific Committee of Engineering Troops and designers of defense enterprises are now working on another passive device.
Also, the defense department is showing interest in the development of the latest medical exoskeletons, which are used in military hospitals for the successful postoperative rehabilitation of patients.
Now the injured soldiers and officers of the Russian army are being restored with the help of the Exoatlet apparatus.
One of the exoskeletons of "Rostec"
© rostec.ru
As military expert Yuri Knutov explained in an interview with RT, the Russian army needs a variety of exoskeletons.
In this regard, domestic enterprises have a wide scope for activity.
At the moment, the defense industry has achieved the greatest success in improving passive devices.
“Passive exoskeletons are unpretentious, it is advisable to use them in combat operations and in difficult natural and climatic conditions.
In the army, there are a number of operations that are performed by several people, and with an exoskeleton, one soldier can perform this.
Now quite worthy samples have been created in Russia, ”Knutov noted.
At the same time, according to the expert, active exoskeletons require a rather lengthy refinement.
The main problems of these devices remain insufficient battery power, dependence on weather conditions, the risk of serious mechanical damage and a long time required for training military personnel.
“The weakest side of active exoskeletons is, of course, the power supply, the large number of drives.
If you find yourself in the desert or in the cold, in a swampy area, all these devices can fail.
Plus, the power supply itself should be compact.
So far, there has been no demonstration of such products in the world, ”Knutov stated.
Andrey Koshkin, a member of the Association of Military Political Scientists, is more optimistic about the process of creating active exoskeletons.
In a conversation with RT, the expert said that Russian engineers are able to solve problems with power supply and whimsical operation in a relatively short time.
“An exoskeleton is a movement forward, and our enterprises of the military-industrial complex, which create high-tech weapons, can quite successfully cope with the manufacture of exoskeletons of various types.
The exoskeleton will definitely make the soldier's work easier.
True, at first, as I think, these devices will be supplied to special units, "summed up Koshkin.