Britain's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has unveiled a robot that can run, sit and even mimic the movement of a soldier.
Costing over £1 million and using F1 technology, Porton Man will test protective suits and equipment.
Porton Man has more than 100 sensors over its body to record data during tests.
Developers said it would help them create the next generation of protective equipment.
It was made by i-bodi, a technology firm based in Buckingham, for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down near Salisbury - where clothing systems for soldiers are tested against chemical warfare agents.
The robot can raise its arms to imitate signals given by soldiers and can also march and kneel.
And though the Ministry has just announced the robot’s arrival, he’s actually the second incarnation of a UK military testing bot. Porton Man’s older brother was a clunky, 176-pound beast that was nearly impossible to move around. So i-bodi went back to the drawing board and took advantage of the same types of carbon composite parts you’d find in a Formula 1 race car — ultimately shaving off an entire 14kg of robot.
In addition to being lighter, the new Porton Man is also more realistic. His design is the culmination of data taken from 2500 different soldiers, meaning he’ll offer more accurate results in terms of how the gear will fare on actual soldiers.
Porton Down has been dubbed "Britain's Area 51".
Robot mannequin to test armed forces' protective suits
BBC News
5 April 2014
The Porton Man has been made for use in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
A robotic mannequin that can run, sit and even mimic the movement of a soldier has been unveiled by the Ministry of Defence.
The £1.1m robot - developed using Formula 1 technology - will test protective suits and equipment.
The "Porton Man" has more than 100 sensors over its body to record data during tests.
Developers said it would help them create the next generation of protective equipment.
Unique
The Ministry of Defence said the new animatronic mannequin was unique to the UK.
It has been made for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) - where clothing systems for soldiers are tested against chemical warfare agents.
The robot can raise its arms to imitate signals given by soldiers and can also march and kneel.
Previous mannequins were brought into use in the late 1990s and helped to influence the design of the chemical, biological and radiological suits currently used by the armed forces.
But the latest has a better movement range than previous models, including of its head.
The Porton Man can walk, march and run
It is hoped tests involving the latest mannequins will help produce a new, lighter protective suit for the miltary.
Dr Colin Willis, principal for the Chemical Biological Protection Group at the DSTL, said testers would be able to put "more realistic stresses" on the robot to achieve better results.
"It's really the materials and the fact he will be exposed to chemical warfare agents, so the material design has been very important obviously," Dr Willis told the BBC's Today programme.
"It sounds simple, but when you see the mannequin and the computer controls, it really is a complex piece of machinery."
Dr Willis said the goal with the robot, which he described as "much more realistic" than a 10-year-old mannequin that had been in use, was to create suits that strike a balance between protection and physiological burden.
F1 technology
Porton Down
The Porton Man - named after the location of the DSTL in Porton Down, Wiltshire - was made by i-bodi, a technology firm based in Buckingham.
The company also makes animatronics and robotics for film and television.
Its chief executive Jez Gibson-Harris said the mannequin was based on data collected from 2,500 soldiers and that the company had used similar techniques to those seen in Formula 1 cars.
He said: "Our brief was to produce a lightweight robotic mannequin that had a wide range of movement and was easy to handle.
"Of course there were a number of challenges associated with this and one way we looked to tackle these challenges was through the use of Formula 1 technology.
"Using the same concepts as those used in racing cars, we were able to produce very light but highly durable carbon composite body parts for the mannequin."
More realistic
Jaime Cummins, from DSTL's chemical and biological physical protection group, said the new Porton Man is much lighter than its predecessor at 14kg (30lb), rather than 80kg (176lb).
That will make it easier to move the model in and out of its test chamber.
He said: "It's a better, more realistic test system, and we are now in a better position to design and develop the next generation of CB (chemical and biological) protective suit equipment."
Philip Dunne, minister for defence equipment, support and technology, said: "This technology, designed by a British company is enabling the UK to lead the way in this important testing.
"Increased investment in science and technology by the MoD (Ministry of Defence) is not only enabling battle-winning and life-saving equipment to be developed but also helping innovative companies like i-bodi Technology to develop cutting edge capability."
Robotic 'Porton Man' to Help Test Military Chemical Suits 04.04.14 - YouTube
BBC News - Robot mannequin to test armed forces' protective suits
Costing over £1 million and using F1 technology, Porton Man will test protective suits and equipment.
Porton Man has more than 100 sensors over its body to record data during tests.
Developers said it would help them create the next generation of protective equipment.
It was made by i-bodi, a technology firm based in Buckingham, for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down near Salisbury - where clothing systems for soldiers are tested against chemical warfare agents.
The robot can raise its arms to imitate signals given by soldiers and can also march and kneel.
And though the Ministry has just announced the robot’s arrival, he’s actually the second incarnation of a UK military testing bot. Porton Man’s older brother was a clunky, 176-pound beast that was nearly impossible to move around. So i-bodi went back to the drawing board and took advantage of the same types of carbon composite parts you’d find in a Formula 1 race car — ultimately shaving off an entire 14kg of robot.
In addition to being lighter, the new Porton Man is also more realistic. His design is the culmination of data taken from 2500 different soldiers, meaning he’ll offer more accurate results in terms of how the gear will fare on actual soldiers.
Porton Down has been dubbed "Britain's Area 51".
Founded in 1916 to combat German gas attacks, it initially conducted research and development into chemical weapons agents such as chlorine, phosgene and mustard gas.
In 2004 it was revealed that hundreds of military personnel took part in nerve gas tests at Porton Down in the 1950s.
An inquest ruled that a young RAF mechanic had been unlawfully killed in a secret nerve gas test moments after having liquid Sarin dripped on to his arm in May 1953.
Hundreds of other veterans who also took part in similar experiments have since received an apology and a share of £3 million in compensation from the Government.
In 2010 it was revealed that, in the previous five years, 119 live pigs had been blown up with explosives at Porton Down to test bullet-proof Kevlar.
Robot mannequin to test armed forces' protective suits
BBC News
5 April 2014
The Porton Man has been made for use in the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
A robotic mannequin that can run, sit and even mimic the movement of a soldier has been unveiled by the Ministry of Defence.
The £1.1m robot - developed using Formula 1 technology - will test protective suits and equipment.
The "Porton Man" has more than 100 sensors over its body to record data during tests.
Developers said it would help them create the next generation of protective equipment.
Unique
The Ministry of Defence said the new animatronic mannequin was unique to the UK.
It has been made for the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) - where clothing systems for soldiers are tested against chemical warfare agents.
The robot can raise its arms to imitate signals given by soldiers and can also march and kneel.
Previous mannequins were brought into use in the late 1990s and helped to influence the design of the chemical, biological and radiological suits currently used by the armed forces.
But the latest has a better movement range than previous models, including of its head.
The Porton Man can walk, march and run
It is hoped tests involving the latest mannequins will help produce a new, lighter protective suit for the miltary.
Dr Colin Willis, principal for the Chemical Biological Protection Group at the DSTL, said testers would be able to put "more realistic stresses" on the robot to achieve better results.
"It's really the materials and the fact he will be exposed to chemical warfare agents, so the material design has been very important obviously," Dr Willis told the BBC's Today programme.
"It sounds simple, but when you see the mannequin and the computer controls, it really is a complex piece of machinery."
Dr Willis said the goal with the robot, which he described as "much more realistic" than a 10-year-old mannequin that had been in use, was to create suits that strike a balance between protection and physiological burden.
F1 technology
Porton Down
The Porton Man - named after the location of the DSTL in Porton Down, Wiltshire - was made by i-bodi, a technology firm based in Buckingham.
The company also makes animatronics and robotics for film and television.
Its chief executive Jez Gibson-Harris said the mannequin was based on data collected from 2,500 soldiers and that the company had used similar techniques to those seen in Formula 1 cars.
He said: "Our brief was to produce a lightweight robotic mannequin that had a wide range of movement and was easy to handle.
"Of course there were a number of challenges associated with this and one way we looked to tackle these challenges was through the use of Formula 1 technology.
"Using the same concepts as those used in racing cars, we were able to produce very light but highly durable carbon composite body parts for the mannequin."
More realistic
Jaime Cummins, from DSTL's chemical and biological physical protection group, said the new Porton Man is much lighter than its predecessor at 14kg (30lb), rather than 80kg (176lb).
That will make it easier to move the model in and out of its test chamber.
He said: "It's a better, more realistic test system, and we are now in a better position to design and develop the next generation of CB (chemical and biological) protective suit equipment."
Philip Dunne, minister for defence equipment, support and technology, said: "This technology, designed by a British company is enabling the UK to lead the way in this important testing.
"Increased investment in science and technology by the MoD (Ministry of Defence) is not only enabling battle-winning and life-saving equipment to be developed but also helping innovative companies like i-bodi Technology to develop cutting edge capability."
Robotic 'Porton Man' to Help Test Military Chemical Suits 04.04.14 - YouTube
BBC News - Robot mannequin to test armed forces' protective suits
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