Exoskeletons are here and are meant to provide us super human strength, allowing us to do tasks that were before impossible and wish we are all like the Incredible Hulk. Whether in popular culture as shown in recent Hollywood movies such as Edge of Tomorrow and Elysium, or in FPS video games that we now see in the Call of Duty Franchise, there are actual exoskeleton projects that are being spearheaded by military research institutes around the world. Foremost is U.S. Military with the Lockheed HULC project.

The Chinese are now far behind as they also are heavily into the development into Exoskeletons. At the Zhuhai Air Show in 2014, the 202 Institute of the China North Industries Group Corporation or more known as NORINCO unveiled an exoskeleton that gives 80% coefficient in weight, allowing the user feel that a 100kg object will weigh 20kg and is flexible enough to do lateral movements. They also mentioned that they will implement further improvements before introducing for full use into the PLA in the future.

Now over a half a year since the 2014 Zhuhai Air Show, they unveiled an improved version that shows a more substantial exoskeleton. According to Popular Science, it has upgrades in terms of  battery packs, hip mounted pneumatic/hydraulic pumps that are more powerful to support leg movements. The upgrades allows it to carry over 100lbs in load and with the battery at full charge, can allow the soldier to walk 20 kilometres at a good pace of 4.5km per hour with a 100lb. load that is similar to the Lockheed HULC.  Other capabilities include improved lateral movement and crawling showing that it is agile enough to use in the heat of battle.

The exoskeleton is seen to be deployed to PLA troops in the future, though it still remains to be seen. But given the efforts of the U.S. Army to have their own exoskeleton-equipped troops in the future, the Chinese surely would not want to be left behind.

Photo source: News.qq.com