[OT]Real life powered battlesuits

[CrossoverManiac]

From http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050607/lf_afp/afplifestylejapantechnologyrobotelderly_0506071414 15:

TOKYO (AFP) - Japan has taken a step into the science-fiction world with the release of a "robot suit" that can help workers lift heavy loads or assist people with disabilities climb stairs. "Humans may be able to mutate into supermen in the near future," said Yoshiyuki Sankai, professor and engineer at Tsukuba University who led the project.

The 15-kilogram (33-pound) battery-powered suit, code-named HAL-5, detects muscle movements through electrical-signal flows on the skin surface and then amplifies them.

It can also move on its own accord, enabling it to help elderly or handicapped people walk, developers said.

The prototype suit will be displayed at the World Exposition that is currently taking place in Aichi prefecture, central Japan.

Japan has seen a growing market for technology geared toward the elderly, who are making up an increasing chunk of the population as fewer younger Japanese choose to start families.

A government report last week showed that pensioners made up a record 19.5 percent of the country's population in 2004 and that the ratio will grow rapidly, surpassing 35 percent in 2050.

Just think. Ten years from now, we could be living in Bubblegum Crisis or an Iron Man comic :D

[yeoman]

Yeo calls having a Valkerie.

[CrossoverManiac]

I said 'powersuits' not mechas. Don't make me bring in the anti-mecha/pro-tank forces here. Or do you want posts after posts on equations of how much a mecha can weigh before it sinks into the ground or commentary about how something as complex as a transforming mecha will brankupt the federal budget in maintainance cost.

[yeoman]

I said 'powersuits' not mechas. Don't make me bring in the anti-mecha/pro-tank forces here.

Do not threaten the Yeo. He responds with but two words. Bring. It.

Or do you want posts after posts on equations of how much a mecha can weigh before it sinks into the ground

Valkeries are largely space and air based mecha, not meant for fighting on the ground much.

or commentary about how something as complex as a transforming mecha will brankupt the federal budget in maintainance cost.

At the current level of tech, sure. But then, do you really want to talk about what the maintence and realism factors of Knight Saber Hardsuits, much less Stark Industires level Power Armor are?

[CrossoverManiac]

Do not threaten the Yeo. He responds with but two words. Bring. It.

Alright. Humanoid mechs have high cross-sectional areas making them easy targets. Mechs on the ground will apply more pressure on the ground than a tank of equal mass and sink further in the ground. And forget about firing heavy weapons. The recoil will knock any human mech on its ass. Not only that, humanoid mechs have a higher surface area to volume ratio meaning more mass to give it armor of the same thickness as tanks. OTOH: tanks using the same tech is lower to the ground making it a harder target and its base is wide enough to not be knocked over by the recoil of heavy artillery not to mention having a smaller cross-sectional area to aim at. And a smaller surface area to volume ratio means less armor.

Valkeries are largely space and air based mecha, not meant for fighting on the ground much.

But I bet the maintainance on it is a bitch.

At the current level of tech, sure. But then, do you really want to talk about what the maintence and realism factors of Knight Saber Hardsuits, much less Stark Industires level Power Armor are?

Conceded but I wasn't being serious. But seriously, the human-size mech armor/power suits are more realistic than even the more tamer versions of the giant humanoid mecha.

[Infinity Chameleon]

I said 'powersuits' not mechas. Don't make me bring in the anti-mecha/pro-tank forces here.]
Do not threaten the Yeo. He responds with but two words. Bring. It.

Consider. It. Brought. (http://www.fukufics.com/viewtopic.php?t=587)

[Shades0077]

They're calling it HAL? Isn't that just asking for trouble?

"I'm sorry Dave...."

[GremlinClr]

They're calling it HAL? Isn't that just asking for trouble?

"I'm sorry Dave...."

That's the first thing that came to my mind as well.

[yeoman]

Alright. Humanoid mechs have high cross-sectional areas making them easy targets. Mechs on the ground will apply more pressure on the ground than a tank of equal mass and sink further in the ground. And forget about firing heavy weapons. The recoil will knock any human mech on its ass. Not only that, humanoid mechs have a higher surface area to volume ratio meaning more mass to give it armor of the same thickness as tanks. OTOH: tanks using the same tech is lower to the ground making it a harder target and its base is wide enough to not be knocked over by the recoil of heavy artillery not to mention having a smaller cross-sectional area to aim at. And a smaller surface area to volume ratio means less armor.


Except, of course, the Valkerie is a fighter, which are not, traditionally, heavily armored. While it has been shown in ground combat, that's really not the point of the vehicle.


But I bet the maintainance on it is a bitch.

Again, at current tech levels.


Conceded but I wasn't being serious. But seriously, the human-size mech armor/power suits are more realistic than even the more tamer versions of the giant humanoid mecha.

Did you just call *Iron Man* more realistic than, say, a Labor? Which is about the most realistic giant mecha you'll find.

[CrossoverManiac]

Except, of course, the Valkerie is a fighter, which are not, traditionally, heavily armored.

And traditionally, fighters try to lighten their mass so not to carry around unnecessary weight. Fighters with arms and reinforced tail to allow them to transform it into legs is just that.

While it has been shown in ground combat, that's really not the point of the vehicle.

I thought the point of the vehicle was to fight Zentradi since they're 60 feet tall. Then maybe the Valkerie make sense, but only they replace the separate the humanoid mecha from the plane and kept them seperate using the plane for space and air combat and the mecha for boarding Zentradi vessels and ground combat. And even then, tanks using the same tech would do better.

Again, at current tech levels.

At currect tech level, they make something on the order of a TIE-fighter or Starfury which will be more manueverable and have more armor for the same weight (remember that high surface area to volume ratio) than a Valkerie.

Did you just call *Iron Man* more realistic than, say, a Labor? Which is about the most realistic giant mecha you'll find.

No, I said powersuits are more realistic than giant humanoid mecha. Yes, Iron Man armor is less realistic than Labors. But the Bubblegum Crisis armor, which is on the same tech level as the Patlabor, is more realistic because the concept of a giant humanoid mecha is inheritly flawed.