US Navy To Evaluate Lockheed Martin's FORTIS Exoskeletons

Lockheed Martin has won a contract through the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) for the U.S. Navy to evaluate and test two FORTIS exoskeletons.

The FORTIS exoskeleton is an unpowered, lightweight exoskeleton that increases an operator's strength and endurance by transferring the weight of heavy loads from the user's body directly to the ground.

The U.S. Navy will test the gear for hand-tool use at its shipyards."Ship maintenance often requires use of heavy tools, such as grinders, riveters or sandblasters," said Adam Miller, director of new initiatives at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, in a press release Monday

The FORTIS exoskeleton augments the strength and endurance of maintenance personnel in the physically demanding shipyard environment. Because its ergonomic design moves naturally with the body and allows operators to maintain flexibility, operators are not hindered by the exoskeleton.