Powered exoskeleton
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A powered exoskeleton is a mobile machine consisting primarily of a skeleton-like framework worn by a person and a power supply that supplies at least part of the activation energy for limb movement.
Description[edit]
Powered exoskeletons are designed to physically assist and, in many cases, protect the wearer. They may be designed to assist and protect soldiers and construction workers, or to allow people to survive in other dangerous environments. A wide medical market exists for powered exoskeletons to provide mobility assistance for aged and infirm people. Other possibilities include rescue work, such as in collapsed buildings, in which the device might allow a rescue worker to lift heavy debris, while simultaneously protecting him from falling rubble.
The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor designed by Dr. Catherine Halsey is the most sophisticated UNSC powered armor project so far. As one of its main strengths, the MJOLNIR system eschews traditional mechanized joints in favor of a strength-enhancing layer of electroactive liquid crystal and provides a cybernetic link which boosts the wearer's reactions by a factor of five.[1] While it is the most successful UNSC powered armor project, MJOLNIR is by no means the only effort to physically augment soldiers in combat. The HRUNTING Mark III [B] Cyclops and the HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark I were exoskeleton systems derived from earlier prototypes developed by exoskeleton programs which predated MJOLNIR.[2] Large-scale powered exoskeletons became more common in the years following the Human-Covenant War, with at least one model, the Mantis, seeing battlefield use.
The Semi-Powered Infiltration armor predominantly used by the Spartan-III supersoldiers provides modest physical enhancement[3] as well as a rudimentary active camouflage by means of photoreactive panels, allowing covert operations in enemy territory.[4] RKD, an Earth think-tank, created Project HAYABUSA concurrently with MJOLNIR and while the two were developed separately, they share many characteristics, and are interchangeable to a degree.[5]
In 2558, Michael Crespo wore an older early-war suit of ODST armor, which apparently had an exoskeleton installed in it. It was noted to be significantly less capable than MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.[6]
The Forerunners' personal armor offered powered support to some extent. For combat use, they also developed armor suits known as combat skins, using a class system based on numbers, on which the MJOLNIR Mark V[7] and Mark VI[8] would be rated Class 2.
Known powered exoskeletons[edit]
There are form fitting exoskeleton suits that act as armor, and there are larger exoskeletons that act as vehicles.
Armored suits[edit]
Forerunner[edit]
- Personal armor - Body-assist armor worn by virtually all Forerunners in everyday life
- Combat skin - Armor worn by Forerunners in battle
Human[edit]
United Nations Space Command[edit]
- Hayabusa Powered Assault Armor - A UNSC powered armor system similar to the MJOLNIR armor
- MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor - The performance-enhancing body armor first used by the SPARTAN-IIs and later by all Spartans
- Mark I, Mark II, and Mark III - Prototype iterations of MJOLNIR, created before the first production model.
- Mark IV - First iteration of MJOLNIR to enter mass production and see combat service.
- Mark V - Introduced energy shields and artificial intelligence housing.
- Mark VI - Introduced automated biofoam injectors.
- Mark VII - Last of GEN1. Only known use is by Naomi-010. Used as a testbed for GEN3 upgrades.
- GEN2 - A broad array of suits developed after the Human-Covenant War.
- GEN3 - The successor to GEN2, incorporating various improvements and survival upgrades.
- Nightfall armor - A suit of powered armor used by ONI operatives on missions in hazardous environments.
- ORION armor - The ORION Exoframe Load Carrier, often simplified to simply the "ORION armor," was a powered exoskeleton design developed by Project: MELAENO, as a sister project intended for use in the ORION program.[9][10]
- ORCUS exoskeleton - A semi-powered exoskeleton that was tested by Orbital Drop Shock Troopers, before eventually being utilized by Spartan personnel operating with older MJOLNIR ensembles.[11] Though the armor's development would fall into a state of limbo, the project was formally revived in 2559.[12]
- OSTEO combat engineering suit - A suit of powered armor used by both civilian and military (augmented and non-augmented) combat engineers in HAZMAT operations[13]
- Semi-Powered Infiltration armor - The armor used by most SPARTAN-IIIs
- Hellbringer suit - A powered exoskeleton utilised by the UNSC Hellbringers.[14]
Venezia[edit]
- Goblinstrike - The Goblinstrike effort by Venezia is a powered exoskeleton project to manufacture armor for human mercenaries such as jannisaries.[15]
- Infractor - Infractor suits are built for use by infiltration units, assassins, and reconnaissance forces based on the power armor used by Brute Stalkers.[16] The armor features passive sensors on the armor's shoulder plates and the helmet also houses the most advanced netwar gear that Venezian engineers can use.[17][18]
- Sovereign - Manufactured by New Tyne Armory, the Sovereign armor features holoprojectors, micro-gravity shock dampeners on the armor's knee pads, and it integrates a Proselytization network on its chestplate.
- Taskmaster - The Taskmaster armor is provided by Venezian power brokers for use with Banished Janissary mercenary commanders.[19] The helmet is compatible with the Blue Cornet attachment which uses repurposed Covenant parts and pirated UNSC firmware, with the unique Venezian design "glue" that creates a compact and secure comm uplink, back-doors aside.[20]
Banished[edit]
The Banished created several variants of armor typically for Janissary mercenaries that is compatible with MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.