SOLDIERS LEARN SHOOTING SKILLS WITH ARMY EXOSKELETON PROTOTYPE

MAXFAS Exoskeleton Offers Soldiers A Robotic Edge In Marksmanship

US Army researchers could soon have a robotic shortcut to improving soldiers’ marksmanship – a skill that can take many years to master. MAXFAS, an arm exoskeleton that uses cable-activated arm braces, is designed to correct the involuntary arm shakes that sometimes occur while shooting. Employing a carbon fiber body that’s light enough not to weigh down the shooter, MAXFAS is advanced enough to distinguish purposeful movements, such as aiming, from uncontrollable trembling. With the machinery currently fixed in place, its main purpose would be teaching proficiency to recruits and anyone in need of brushing up on a short-term basis. Developers noted in early tests that people who’d worn MAXFAS could shoot better, even after taking it off. A mobile version of the device that gives troops an edge on the battlefield is hoped for in the future. Other military exoskeletons include Legacy Effects’, genre-blurring TALOS project.