'Iron Man' TALOS Suit Prototype to Debut in June

Tony Stark might have some competition soon. The military’s much-hyped “Iron Man” suit — a robotic exoskeleton designed to bolster protection for Special Operations soldiers in the field — is set to make its debut next month.

According to Live Science, science and technology development company Battelle said a prototype of the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit, or TALOS, will be available sometime in June, and a complete version will be ready between 2016 and 2018.

“How do you protect against direct action engagement?” said John Folkerts, vice president for the special operations market group at Battelle. The answer is to provide combat soldiers with better armor, better protection and better communication, Folkerts told Live Science. This is where TALOS comes in.

TALOS is just one of several projects currently in development by Battelle. The company is also helping the military develop unmanned underwater robotic vehicles, digital “heads-up” displays and a de-icing aircraft coating, Live Science confirmed. Some of these were on display at a U.S. Special Forces industry conference held May 20-22 in Tampa.

According to Live Science, the TALOS “Iron Man” suit would protect the wearer from bullets, assist in heavy load lifting and provide information about immediate environments using cameras, sensors and other displays. TALOS is currently being worked on by MIT, the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM), and other institutions like Battelle, which will integrate these technologies.