Hardiman

The Hardiman was the first prototype of an artificial exoskeleton of General Electric from 1965. The wearer of the Hardiman should enable up to 680 -pound loads to lift with ease. The project failed because the controlled use of the exoskeleton did not succeed.

Any attempt to use the exoskeleton, resulting in uncontrolled movements and it was not possible for the operator to turn on the spot. Further research focused on only after a gripping arm. Even if he lifted 340 kg heavy loads, the gripper arm weighed three quarters of a ton, more than double the load to be carried. Since the components of the Hardiman did not cooperate properly and ran no practical benefit from it, the project was discontinued.

Today in the U.S. and Japan ( the exoskeleton HAL -5, for example ), research will continue again on such artificial exoskeletons for the military ( for example, the Berkeley Lower Extremity Exoskeleton ) and for civilian applications.