Chapter 937 'Dragon Spine-I' Exoskeleton System

Although the box is large and gives people a very bulky feeling, after the lid is completely opened, the 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system inside gives Du Yuming a very light feeling.

The shape of the 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system is not as sci-fi as imagined. What comes into view is the dark gray metal frame that constitutes the main body of the entire system. The structural lines are smooth and refined, without any unnecessary edges and decorations, exuding a pure practical atmosphere.

The key dorsal spine support beam is slightly curved to fit the natural curve of the human spine, has a smooth surface, and has integrated sensors and cables inside.

The upper end is connected to a wide shoulder load-bearing frame, which extends straight to both sides, covering the shoulder blade area. It is equipped with multiple standardized quick-release interfaces and sturdy hanging points.

Used to hang backpacks, weapons (such as heavy machine guns, grenade launchers), communication equipment and other shoulder and back loads...

Then comes the waist. The waist of the Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system is a rigid, slightly wider ring structure that is firmly connected to the bottom end of the spine beam.

Designed to fit snugly and lined with shock-absorbing cushioning, it's the key hub of the system that transfers weight to your lower body and the ground.

On the back side of the load-bearing ring, you can see the slots for multiple modular high-energy-density lithium battery packs. Currently, the batteries are not installed, leaving only the sturdy metal interfaces exposed.

Further down is the most complex lower limb system consisting of the hip and knee joints, which is mainly divided into two parts: passive structure and active auxiliary unit.

The passive structure is located at the hip and knee, and you can clearly see the metal cylinder of the hydraulic damper integrated in the frame, as well as the elastic energy storage element wrapped in a protective shell.

These components are tightly connected and have no exposed moving parts, ensuring reliability in harsh environments.

The active assist unit is located on the outside of the hip and knee joints, where you can see a small, high-torque brushless motor unit with a compact size and tough lines.

They are wrapped in a solid metal shell, the color is consistent with the frame, the appearance is highly integrated, and there is no abrupt feeling. The motor is connected to the joint structure through a short connecting rod, and the overall design feels very "restrained".

While Du Yuming was appreciating the Dragon Spine-I exoskeleton system in front of him like a work of art, he also started to introduce it to the director:

"Captain Du, this 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system was developed by our 001 Light Weapons Military Research Institute. The main frame is made of high-strength titanium alloy material. The total weight is between 15-25 kilograms, and it is as lightweight as possible. The actual configuration depends on the power of the optional active power unit and the battery capacity."

"It has a solid structure and is easy to carry out basic maintenance and replace core components in field conditions. It is IP65 resistant to electromagnetic interference, dust and water, and can match the existing 171 series light combat equipment, 'Dragon' series heavy combat equipment, as well as carrying equipment, weapon systems, etc."

"In actual combat, 60% of the carried weight (through the back hanging point) and 40% of the shoulder and waist hanging weight can be effectively transferred to the ground. The wearer's subjective sense of weight is reduced by more than 30%!"

"In mixed mode, it can significantly reduce the oxygen consumption of lower limb muscles, extend the continuous marching time by 1.5 times, increase the speed of passing through complex terrain, and reduce fatigue accumulation. It can help soldiers carry more and heavier payloads (such as additional ammunition, batteries, anti-armor weapons, etc.)."

hiss~

As the General Assembly Department introduced the director, Du Yuming's eyes became brighter and brighter, so much so that the look he gave towards the 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system was as gentle as if he was looking at his beloved wife!

As an old special warfare veteran and essentially an old infantryman, no one understands the significance of a 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system to an infantry soldier better than him!

On the surface, it seems that it only carries more ammunition and weapons and increases battery life, but in reality it brings more tactical options and more possibilities!

In extreme cases, carrying one more bullet, one more grenade, or saving a little more energy can lead to a completely different outcome!

Therefore, the combination of soldiers and exoskeletons is not just a 1+1=2 relationship, but a doubling of combat power! Infinite vitality!

The distribution of the 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system is like a tiger with wings for the entire 'ground network' force!

......

"Try on the costumes, try on the costumes!"

After satisfying his curiosity, Du Yuming immediately called out excitedly: "Everyone from Special Squadron 1, come over here, everyone try it on!"

Upon hearing this, hundreds of members of the Special 1 Squadron, who had just arrived at the scene and still had excited expressions on their faces, immediately surrounded the transport convoy of the General Assembly Department under the organization of their respective squad leaders.

Climbing onto the vehicle, putting down baffles, moving equipment...it took only a few seconds to unload all the exoskeleton boxes on the four transport vehicles.

There are 4 boxes in total in the 60 cars, which is not enough for one set for each person, but it is enough for everyone to wear and experience it.

...

20 minutes later, the first group of soldiers from Special Squadron 1 wearing the 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system began to move around on the roadside basketball court.

hum~

When the motor system was activated, accompanied by a low hissing sound, the soldiers wearing the 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system felt an external and powerful force instantly injected into their bodies!

"Fuck, it really takes a lot of effort to wear this thing!"

"Hey, this backpack feels so light. Don't tell me, don't tell me, I feel like wearing this thing, I can dual-wield machine guns, wear a single chain of ten bullets, charge into the battle, capture the flag, and kill the generals!!"

...

Many soldiers at the scene excitedly talked about their feelings and officially started the experience session, first trying to move their bodies.

When the soldiers lift their legs and take a step, they can clearly feel the thrust of the motors at the exoskeleton joints and the precise damping feedback. It is as if they are "driving" their legs forward, and each step carries a solid sense of mechanical power.

However, since the soldiers present were all masters of physical fitness who had strong control over their bodies, they quickly found the feeling of "synchronous" movement response between the body and the exoskeleton.

As the control progressed, the soldiers' movements became smoother, and the exoskeleton gradually became an extension of the body, walking, running, jumping...

In almost any movement, one can clearly feel how the force is gathered at the waist ring base, transmitted to the shoulder load pad through the spine beam, and then drives the leg movement through the alloy connecting rod, thus forming a clear force transmission chain.

However, as the soldiers wore it for a while, they gradually discovered some imperfections of the Dragon Spine-I exoskeleton:

For example, psychologically: the exoskeleton itself has a certain weight. Although it reduces the load, it always reminds people of its existence. The slight noise when the joints move (motor sound, hydraulic sound, metal friction sound), the constant lingering slight vibration of the frame, etc., will make people unconsciously produce a sense of rejection as if the soul is half separated from the body.

Another example is mobility: although the impact is not that exaggerated, there is still a sense of restraint, so when performing some tactical actions, it does feel affected to a certain extent.

Another example is mental fatigue: although the muscle burden is greatly reduced, the mind needs to maintain a certain concentration in order to coordinate the movements. This leads to new fatigue in the long term due to this "unnatural" movement mode and the continuous "weight-bearing feeling" of the exoskeleton....

As for whether this "new fatigue" is long-term in nature or only exists temporarily during the adaptation phase, it will require a lot of actual combat to verify...

.....

But no matter what, the overall feedback from wearing the 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system is good and positive, and it greatly increases combat effectiveness!

In the end, even Du Yuming himself couldn't help but try it on. The feeling that the 'Dragon Spine-I' exoskeleton system gave him was a complex experience of being wrapped and bound by cold steel, yet endowed with extraordinary power.

The core of the body feels solid support and partially restricted freedom, while the limbs are loaded with clear external forces.

Every exertion of force is accompanied by a clear mechanical linkage sound and force feedback, creating an "inhuman" rhythm with heavy steps.

It takes the burden off the muscles, but requires precise synchronization of the mind.

Ultimately, it’s the intertwining feeling of control over the machinery and the sense of presence that comes from bearing its weight.

Having said so much, the last sentence is:

“It’s a little uncomfortable, but it feels really good!!! The discomfort is my problem, not its problem!”