French Army Exoskeleton Suits: The French Army has started testing robot suits called exoskeletons to help its soldiers do heavy work. These suits are worn on the body and help carry very heavy loads. The french army is testing them with its maintenance and logistics soldiers.
The exoskeletons can help soldiers carry loads up to 100 kilograms or 220 pounds. The suit pushes most of the weight down to the ground instead of the soldier’s back and legs. This makes the job less painful and helps soldiers feel less tired. European companies like RB3D from France and German Bionic from Germany supplied these suits. Soldiers are learning how to use them at army schools in the city of Bourges.
The army has not said which exact models it likes the most yet. It wants to see which ones work well in real army conditions. The Maintenance Brigade said, “These experiments are conducted in a technical, logistical, and field environment, in direct contact with the real constraints of support,”. This means soldiers are using the suits in real work situations, not just in labs.
France and Other Countries
France has been thinking about exoskeletons for a long time. In 2019, its Defence Innovation Agency said these suits were important for the future. In 2021, the army even tested some suits from Canada, but it never shared the results.
Other countries are also interested. China has tested exoskeletons with soldiers to carry heavy guns and supplies. The United States Army is also studying these suits to see if they can stop injuries and reduce stress on soldiers’ bodies.
Soldiers often hurt their backs and knees from lifting heavy items again and again. Exoskeletons can help stop this. They are not like movie robot suits. They do not make soldiers fly or fight like superheroes.
