Lockheed Martin to Enhance ONYX Exoskeleton for US Army

Lockheed Martin has won $6.9 million United States (US) Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) contract to enhance ONYX exoskeleton for future soldier demonstrations.

Under the two-year, sole-source agreement, Lockheed Martin will optimize ONYX components. The improvements will be evaluated by University of Florida in advance of NSRDEC soldier demonstrations scheduled for 2019, the company said in a statement Thursday.

ONYX is a powered, lower-body exoskeleton with artificial intelligence (AI) technology that augments human strength and endurance. It counteracts overstress on the lower back and legs. Using electro-mechanical knee actuators, a suite of sensors and an AI computer, ONYX learns user movements and delivers torque to assist with walking up steep inclines, lifting or dragging heavy load.