April 14, 2023
Military Technology Means More to You Than You Think
Garrett Burnett
Functional Technology
The U.S. Army (in partnership with Vanderbilt University) has created a new piece of functional technology aimed to help soldiers lift heavy objects with ease. The Soldier Assistive Bionic Exosuit Resupply (SABER) is a remarkable shift away from what the U.S. Army has been producing in the world of functional robotics. An Iron Man like suit already exists, but this is not that. This piece of assistive technology is lightweight and moves with the body rather than restricting it like the heavy, fully robotic exoskeleton.
Development Process
This technology was created with a soldier-first mentality. Researchers from Vanderbilt University started by interviewing and physically testing soldiers to see what problems needed to be solved. According to a U.S. Army article, a major issue highlighted in this process was physical overexertion. Once this issue was highlighted, researchers from both the U.S. Army and Vanderbilt teamed up to create the SABER system. This was a technology that had already been in the works in the commercial space, but it needed to be retrofitted for the demands of a soldier.
Following the redesign, the system went into testing. Again, this was a soldier-centered process. The system was sent to 100 soldiers across three different military bases. After being used for a month, the SABER system was given overwhelmingly positive reviews. According to biomechanical evaluations, “the three-pound suit reduced stress of Soldiers’ backs by more than 100 pounds while lifting. Additionally, Soldiers increased their endurance by over 60 percent while wearing SABER.” This suit is helping to reduce and mitigate injuries in the U.S. Army, and it will not be long before it is introduced to a wider consumer market. Imagine this product being used in warehouses across the world where part of the job description frequently includes lifting heavy objects or being used by package delivery drivers who are constantly lifting heavy packages and moving them a substantial distance with no assistance.
Robotic Dogs
The U.S. Army has a reputation of investing in robotics. The Department of Defense expensed $7.5 billion on robotic platforms last year, and they are expected to continue to increase spending in this sector. With that much spending, innovation is inevitable. In 2020, the U.S. military released semiautonomous robot dogs to act as guards at Tyndall Air Force Base. The dogs are designed to replace stationary cameras. Although the primary function of these dogs is for military surveillance, they have reignited the desire for robotic, multi-functional pets. There has been an interest in robotic and digital pets since the 1990s with Tamagotchi and Furby, but most of these pets do not have multi-functionality. People want a real dog without the hassle of having a dog. The military, not surprisingly, has been large amounts of money at this problem to create a multi-functional robotic dog. It may not be long before the robotic dogs already on the shelves being marketed as toys for children, are mass marketed towards adults as new, shiny, and reliable companions.
Most people think that military technology is limited to weapons and other things built to destroy, but there is innovative technology coming from the military that has the potential to help civilians in everyday life. According to the BBC, there have been many technological advancements that have come from militaries. For example, we have militaries to thank for the microwave oven, duct tape, GPS, blood transfusions, canned food, and digital cameras. Military engineers are creating more than just weaponry, and following the latest trends in military technology could give you insight into the next wave of consumer technology.