Pentagon looks to exoskeletons to build 'super-soldiers'

The U.S. Army has awarded a $6.9m contract to develop an'Iron Man' exoskeleton to give soldiers superhuman strength and endurance. Called Onyx, the battery-operated exoskeleton uses a suite of sensors, artificial intelligence and other technology to aid natural movements. It is being built by Lockheed Martin, and was originally designed to help people with mobility problems. 'It supports and boosts leg capacity for physically demanding tasks that require lifting or dragging heavy loads, holding tools or equipment, repetitive or continuous kneeling or squatting, crawling, walking long distances, walking with load, walking up or down hills, or carrying loads on stairs,' Lockheed Martin said. 'When human strength is challenged, ONYX makes the difference, reducing muscle fatigue, increasing endurance, and reducing injury.'