Intespring presents Centaur military exoskeleton.

Inespring presents at Eurosatory 2022 in Paris the Centaur military exoskeleton.The Centaur is a load carrying military exoskeleton for heavy and awkward burdens. It is a light weight wearable, human powered, hydraulic system that reduces the burden, wear and tear of the musculoskeletal systems and discomfort while increasing endurance, survivability and the tooth-to-tail ratio of your forces.
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Using artificial intelligence the Centaur accurately predicts when its hydraulic systems need to be active and how to give the wearer a fluent and natural feeling experience (Picture source: Army Recognition)

The combat capabilities of a single soldier have greatly increased in the past decades, giving more flexibility and more real time communication possibilities. However, these capabilities are gained from new equipment that needs to be transported into the field of battle. Some situations and missions do not afford the luxury of transportation using vehicles, and manually carrying heavy loads on the back is still a daily reality for many armed forces.

InteSpring, The Dutch Ministry of Defence and the renound research institute TNO have worked on exoskeleton solutions to this problem under the Exobuddy project for 8 years.

From the Exobuddy project InteSpring now proudly presents: the Centaur. A military exoskeleton suit and load carrying system designed for airdropped troop movement, and heavily packed special forces, marines, or supporting roles like medical and engineering troops on low risk approach march.

The Centaurs simple principle uses hydraulics to give rigidity and shock absorption to the exoskeleton leg during the time it stands on the ground. Lifting the load off the back using the wearers own force forwards.

Validating research from TNO on this principle in early days of the Exobuddy project has shown that wearers are relieved of their burden and that this has an impact on their perceived exertion and comfort.

Potential benifits in the short term are an increased situational awereness, increased combat effectiveness, and a higher survivability. Long term the potential benefits are a higher tooth-to-tail ratio and reduced dropout injuries.

The downside of this principle is that metabolic costs are increased due to a shift from muscle contraction in trunk, legs, and shoulders needed to keep the weight up, to muscle action in legs to lever the weight up using the Centaur.

The upsides are a much lower electrical cost, a simpler more robust system and a more healthy activation of the body.

The legs only connect to the boots and to the load carrying frame of the Centaur. Those are exactly 3 interfaces. The legs are controlled and positioned freely by the wearer and only augment movement during the times it it firmly planted on the surface.

The weight of the legs themselves are balanced using InteSpring’s patented spring technology, effectively making them weightless during movement.

The whole system can be folded up into itself during walking or for transport.Therfore the exoskeleton suit military is a perfect fit.