Special Operations Needs and Requirements
Peter Paicopolis, SOCOM, Aberdeen Proving Ground
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- Special forces would be the most adaptable vis-à-vis an exoskeleton system.
- The concept of Metabolic Cost.
- He suggested a mid-term goal might be to create an 'unmanned' exoskeleton controlled at a distance by a soldier with an "I-Port" (whatever one of those is), and that a fully manned exoskeleton might be a long-term goal.
- Special Operations Forces (SOF) wanted an exoskeleton system back in the early 90s but had no money for it. Now DARPA is leading the program SOF are happy.
- SOF carry 170lbs of kit. Most interested in exoskeleton system that carries that weight for them.
- A discussion followed regarding the difference between exoskeleton modularity, (bolt on and off bits for special environments that make the system context dependent,) versus a human augmentation approach, where the system is designed regardless of potential context.
- Kearns felt it was important to enhance the human, "don't give him another thing to operate."
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