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DARPA Z-man program to enable wall climbing soldiers
Next Big Future ^ | June 12, 2011 | Brian Wang

Posted on 06/13/2011 1:10:55 AM PDT by jmcenanly

DARPA Z-man program will develop biologically inspired climbing aids to enable soldiers to scale vertical walls constructed from typical building materials, without using ropes or ladders. Geckos, spiders and small animals are the inspiration behind these climbing aids.

Nanopatents and innovations - In 2010, DARPA demonstrated a fully loaded soldier (300 lb) wearing reattachable pads (magnets and microspines) scaling a series of 25-foot walls built from mission-relevant materials using Z-Man technology.

In 2011, DARPA began the transition of Z-Man prototype technologies (magnets and microspines) to the Armed Services.

Draper is a not-for-profit research and development laboratory focused on the design, development, and deployment of advanced technological solutions for our nation’s most challenging and important problems in security, space exploration, healthcare, and energy. They have a staff of about 1400 and have been developing the Z-man project.

(Excerpt) Read more at feedblitz.com ...


TOPICS: Government
KEYWORDS: military; tech
Just the thing for your friendly neighborhood Navy SEAL, although I see a tactical disadvantage to being stuck like a fly on the wall. However, how long would it take the tangoes to learn to check the ceiling of a room before entering?
1 posted on 06/13/2011 1:11:02 AM PDT by jmcenanly
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To: jmcenanly

That’s where the chameleon-type camouflage skin suit comes into play.

The tango has no idea the SEAL is there until he gets zapped by a huge sticky tongue and yanked headfirst into the gapping maw...

No wait...


2 posted on 06/13/2011 1:17:37 AM PDT by Ronin ("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves" -- Bertrand de Jouve)
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To: jmcenanly

Most good FPS players know to look up. Some of them because that’s where I like to rocket them from. :D


3 posted on 06/13/2011 1:29:07 AM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: jmcenanly

I can see great potential for this among painters and window washers.


4 posted on 06/13/2011 1:29:40 AM PDT by Venturer
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To: jmcenanly

Maybe we can get out M4’s to sound like belching frogs.


5 posted on 06/13/2011 3:08:47 AM PDT by Track9 (Make War!!)
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To: Track9

apart from the frogs.... since when was DARPA a not for profit...oh that makes it sound sooo commercially loving and honorable, even if they spell it darper.... like it sort of a private not for profit charity.....

Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency

“Commissions advanced research for DoD. It was founded in response to the surprise Sputnik launch in 1958 and fathered the Internet somewhere along the way.”
www.darpa.mil/


6 posted on 06/13/2011 3:43:59 AM PDT by Eureka_Lead (No political party has ever become a dictatorship when the citizens have firearms - Stay Vigilant)
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To: Eureka_Lead

Point.


7 posted on 06/13/2011 4:21:06 AM PDT by Track9 (Make War!!)
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To: Venturer

There is probably a market with all the rock climbers out there.


8 posted on 06/13/2011 5:21:09 AM PDT by FreeAtlanta (Obama and the left are making a mockery of our country.)
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To: Eureka_Lead

Draper is a separate entity that is working with DARPA on this project. It, not DARPA, is the not profit to which the article refers.

http://www.draper.com/


9 posted on 06/13/2011 6:01:23 AM PDT by evilC
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To: jmcenanly
Fred MacMurry's Professor Brainard in
The Absent-Minded Professor
was way ahead of them...with Flubber.


10 posted on 06/13/2011 7:27:24 AM PDT by moovova (That laser-like focus was just a sharp stick in the eye.)
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