Wearables

ExoM armored exoskeleton takes a load off – and stops bullets, too

ExoM armored exoskeleton takes a load off – and stops bullets, too
The ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton reportedly redistributes up to 70% of the overall load from the wearer's shoulders down to the ground, plus it can withstand hits from 7.62 × 39-mm rounds
The ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton reportedly redistributes up to 70% of the overall load from the wearer's shoulders down to the ground, plus it can withstand hits from 7.62 × 39-mm rounds
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The full ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton
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The full ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton
The ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton reportedly redistributes up to 70% of the overall load from the wearer's shoulders down to the ground, plus it can withstand hits from 7.62 × 39-mm rounds
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The ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton reportedly redistributes up to 70% of the overall load from the wearer's shoulders down to the ground, plus it can withstand hits from 7.62 × 39-mm rounds
Body armor panels are located throughout the exoskeleton
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Body armor panels are located throughout the exoskeleton
The ExoM's flexible spine, sliding waist belt and articulated hip, knee, and ankle joints are claimed to ensure that the wearer retains up to 99% of their usual range of motion
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The ExoM's flexible spine, sliding waist belt and articulated hip, knee, and ankle joints are claimed to ensure that the wearer retains up to 99% of their usual range of motion
View gallery - 4 images

Soldiers and tactical unit police officers often have a lot of heavy gear to carry, including the ballistic body armor that they're wearing. That's where the ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton is intended to come in, as it's load-reducing and bulletproof.

The exoskeleton is manufactured by German company Mehler Protection, which designed the product in collaboration with Canadian biomechanics tech company Mawashi Science & Technology, and French tactical police force GIGN (Groupe d’Intervention de la Gendarmerie Nationale).

Body armor panels throughout the full-body exoskeleton provide ballistic protection up to the European standard of VPAM 8. This means that they can withstand being hit by three 7.62 × 39-mm rounds (which AK-47 rifles use) fired from a distance of approximately 10 meters (33 ft).

Body armor panels are located throughout the exoskeleton
Body armor panels are located throughout the exoskeleton

Additionally, the exoskeleton's titanium frame reportedly redistributes as much as 70% of the overall load from the wearer's shoulders down to the ground (via structural soles inside the user's boots). At the same time, the ExoM's flexible spine, sliding waist belt and articulated hip, knee, and ankle joints are claimed to ensure that the wearer retains up to 99% of their usual range of motion.

Finally, because the ExoM is a passive exoskeleton (meaning it doesn't utilize any motorized actuators), it doesn't have any batteries that add weight or require charging – the latter could definitely prove challenging in remote locations, or on long missions.

We're still waiting to hear back from Mehler regarding information such as the type of ballistic material utilized, and the setup's total weight.

You can see the ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton in use, in the video below.

ExoM Up-Armoured Exoskeleton

Source: Mehler Protection

View gallery - 4 images
12 comments
12 comments
MartyKinn
When tech and materials advancement reaches the right level, the Iron Man suit might become a reality. Maybe in a hundred years
Username
He doesn't look particularly nimble
guzmanchinky
Amazing, and sad that we need this for cops to storm schools...
anthony88
I doubt this is a match for The Australian Fast Bowler https://youtu.be/hG6llE2q2sY?si=thTiuG2uPKT6biRM
Brian M
Perfect suit for living in a modern city!

Still quite exposed to the side of the head around the ears - Wonder if the joint areas are as bullet proof?
windykites
These outfits must cost a small fortune. What about just having a bullet proof shield?
Uncle Anonymous
The first thing that came to my mind when I looked at this suit was picturing the soldier, police officer, after taking an inordinate amount of time to get into this suit saying, "I gotta have a crap." 🙂
veryken
OK, groin shield is important. LOL. However, why don’t they just copy the designs from all those sci-fi action movies where men run around in dark, efficient, exoskin body suits with protection including neck and helmet? Just add the actual bulletproof material and exoskeleton spine and knee joints.
Karmudjun
Where have I seen similar outfits? Was it Star Trek? Battlestar Galactica? Or was it Star Wars? Yes, that was it. Will Lucas be getting a cut of the royalties when this goes mainstream?
CDE
Resistance is futile. You will be assimilated. (Not likely says Species 8472.)
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