Firefighters might soon be equipped with high-tech exoskeletons

We’ve often seen it in science fiction: an exoskeleton worn over the body that turns an average human into a super human, sort of like Iron Man. An exoskeleton not only protects the body, but also lets a person carry heavier loads and get assists in things like walking, running, and other muscular movements. DARPA is already building exoskeletons for soldiers in the field, and NASA is testing exoskeletons that help astronauts exercise in space. Now, a student at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, has extended that idea to firefighting and has designed an exoskeleton concept that will assist firefighters.