Suited for the Job: Sci-Fi Mech Tech Is Real & Ready for Action

If you're afraid of losing your job to some no-good robot, remember that the best man vs. machine is a man (or woman) in machine.
Oct. 14, 2016

Robots. Self-Driving Cars. Artificial Intelligence. More and more, we hear about all the new technology that's poised to take our jobs because they're smarter, faster, and all-around better than us poor meat bags.

Don't let this get you down. Somehow we've survived for millions of years, through ice ages, industrial revolutions, and countless "sharknados". We'll survive this technological upheaval, too.

How?

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. In this case, that means dressing up in the latest robotic exoskeletons. These ergonomic game-changers will make you stronger, faster, and able to do an eight-hour shift without the need to collapse on the couch until your next shift.

You've probably seen this type of tech in sci-fi movies and cartoons, from Aliens to Voltron. Now, since it appears to finally be the future, with Giant Robot Duels between these exosuits on the horizon, companies including Parker HannifinPanasonic, and Lockheed Martin have manufactured their own mechanically driven outerwear to give you an edge when the machines inevitably rise up. And even if that uprising never happens, at least these all give you some super strength without ever having to hit the gym or get bit by a radioactive spider.

About the Author

John Hitch

Editor, Fleet Maintenance

John Hitch, based out of Cleveland, Ohio, is the editor of Fleet Maintenance, a B2B magazine that addresses the service needs for all commercial vehicle makes and models (Classes 1-8), ranging from shop management strategies to the latest tools to enhance uptime.

He previously wrote about equipment and fleet operations and management for FleetOwner, and prior to that, manufacturing and advanced technology for IndustryWeek and New Equipment Digest. He is an award-winning journalist and former sonar technician aboard a nuclear-powered submarine where he served honorably aboard the fast-attack submarine USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723).

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