Individual exoskeleton! Let the "future soldier" have steel bones?

Exoskeleton, in its original definition, is simply a wearable electromechanical device that can enhance human capabilities. Since the emergence of this concept, countries around the world have launched a variety of military exoskeleton equipment. Currently, the world's exoskeleton system has developed three generations, each generation is simpler than the previous one, and the load-bearing capacity and flexibility are also getting higher and higher. However, many voices have proposed that the future direction of military development is unmanned, and soldiers no longer need exoskeletons. Exoskeletons based on human soldiers are no longer suitable in this direction. Some people have even proposed that machine soldiers can be directly created based on highly intelligent AI technology. Where should the road of exoskeletons go?

Soldiers wearing exoskeleton armor (Photo source: Liberation Army Daily Client)

Will the future battlefield be completely unmanned?

The original exoskeleton design was to enhance the multi-faceted combat capabilities of individual soldiers. The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command submitted a report to the U.S. Department of Defense titled "Mechanical Warriors in 2050: Human-Machine Integration and the Future of the Department of Defense," emphasizing the important role of exoskeleton equipment in supporting soldiers in combat. Exoskeleton equipment, a skeletal frame machine that is powered by an engine, battery or hydraulic system and comes with external protective armor to increase the wearer's strength, speed, endurance, reaction and protection, was undoubtedly originally designed to serve human soldiers.

As the saying goes, "Plans cannot keep up with changes." The rapid development of AI technology seems to break this logic. Different opinions have emerged - just like the unmanned soldiers in the movie "Iron Man" - instead of designing exoskeletons based on human characteristics, why not directly create unmanned AI robot soldiers? For the battlefield, if the possibility of humans facing danger directly is reduced, the casualties of human soldiers will plummet. At the same time, unlike humans, robots do not necessarily have the same physical structure as humans. They can be round, teardrop-shaped, insect-shaped, and have a smaller size, which will undoubtedly increase the survival rate on the battlefield. AI robot soldiers look beautiful, but the reality is very "skinny." How to cross the barriers of control and how to control these AI robot soldiers on the battlefield on a large scale and remotely are both big problems. Once the control system is hijacked by the enemy or hackers, the consequences will be disastrous. This trial and error cost is too high for war.

Human exoskeleton equipment in the movie "The Wandering Earth" (Photo source: Xinhuanet )

“ Exoskeleton” + “unmanned” = new direction?

AI robot soldiers and human soldier exoskeletons seem to be two different concepts, but they have something in common and are not completely interchangeable. For example, in the Ali region of Tibet, which is 5,000 meters above sea level, unmanned equipment is difficult to use at this stage due to temperature reasons. However, at the end of 2020, it was found in our border defense forces that individual exoskeleton equipment can significantly increase the individual load-bearing capacity of plateau troops and enhance individual reconnaissance capabilities. Robot soldiers do not have injuries, but humans are different. In terms of wounded recovery and medical rehabilitation, exoskeletons are usually made of materials such as metal or carbon fiber. It can be worn on the body like clothes, which can enhance human mobility and reduce weight. It can help people with multiple sclerosis, severe arthritis and other diseases overcome mobility difficulties.

Soldiers wearing exoskeleton armor carry heavy objects (Source: China Military Network)

One of the main features of AI robot soldiers is that they are expensive, and physical work may not be completely suitable for them for logistical supply. According to the official account of the "People's Army" on social media, my country's Army Service College found in an actual combat exercise that individual exoskeleton armor and unmanned transport equipment that can be controlled in real time work together to complete the work efficiently. Wearing individual exoskeleton armor, soldiers can easily carry hundreds of kilograms of materials to drones and unmanned transport vehicles independently. In normal times, this one carrying action alone requires a lot of manpower to carry out.

Drones and unmanned vehicles used in my country's logistics supply (Source: People's Army WeChat Account)

Humans have never stopped thinking about future battlefields. The future "exoskeleton" may change from the current definition, such as serving humans, to serving the entire military system. Since the first generation, exoskeletons have been plagued by problems such as bulkiness, difficulty in wearing, and long battery life. With the development of computing technology and material technology, smarter, more efficient, and lighter exoskeletons will be further iterated and developed, and individual equipment will also be more miniaturized, lightweight, and efficient. For individual equipment, whether it is an exoskeleton that equips soldiers to the "teeth", or directly relying on new technologies to create AI robot individual soldiers, or both taking advantage of each other's strengths and integrating with each other, let us wait and see.

Expert profile: Wang Teng, a popular science expert on military equipment, holds a master's degree from the Army Armored Forces Academy. He has worked in frontline military news at CCTV and People's Daily, and has participated in the planning and production of many military science and technology topics. He has been conducting popular science research on domestic and foreign high-tech equipment and main combat equipment of various arms for a long time. He has published articles on platforms such as People's Daily Overseas Edition, Legal Daily, and Science Popularization China, and won the Advanced Individual Award issued by the "National Informatization Leading Group".

Produced by: Popular Science of Chinese Military Technology

Author: Wang Teng (senior military science writer)

Scientific review: Wang Mingzhi (military expert)

Planning: Jin He

Producer: Guangming Online Science Department