INNOVATION

The technology conference 3D Experience World in Nashville is organized by France’s Dassault Systèmes – and during the edition in February, visitors could see a demonstration of the world’s largest mechanical suit.

Behind the homemade exoskeleton “Prosthesis” is Jonathan Tippet, a Canadian artist and engineer. The connection to Dassault Systèmes is that he has primarily developed the exoskeleton in their CAD program Solidworks. Although the intention was never to break any kind of record, no one else surpasses the dimensions of the Prosthesis – with a height of four meters and a weight of four tons.

Develops 200 horsepower

To get the suit moving, you have 200 horsepower at your disposal, and that’s enough for the exoskeleton to be able to lift weights of up to one ton. Jonathan Tippet has managed to use his invention to get his own truck out of the mud as well as for loading – and he sees a future where the exoskeleton can replace off-road or work vehicles, and find tasks in agriculture.

The suit could also be a tool in disaster areas, for example during earthquakes and in inaccessible terrain. The inventor also dreams of starting a global league for a mechanized sport he calls “mecha racing”

Will be smaller and stronger

Now the technology is being further developed in Vancouver by Tippet’s company Exosapien Technologies. They expect the next generation to be 3-4 times as powerful but at the same time a third as big as Prosthesis.

In addition, the weight is halved – based on how but believe battery technology will develop. The first battery the team constructed in 2015 weighed 350 kilograms, which today can be replaced by a battery weighing only 60 kilograms

For the construction, the team has collaborated with the technology company Furrion – but an important aspect for future products is that the construction cost of close to one million dollars must be reduced.