Lockheed Martin has announced on 28 November that the company received a $6.9 million award from the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) to enhance the ONYX exoskeleton for future soldier demonstrations.

According to a statement, ONYX is a powered, lower-body exoskeleton with artificial intelligence (AI) technology that augments human strength and endurance.

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

“Innovative human/machine technologies like ONYX can improve human performance, decrease injury and reduce fatigue to help soldiers accomplish physically demanding tasks,” said Keith Maxwell, exoskeleton technologies program manager at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. “This award brings us one step closer to equipping future forces with advanced exoskeleton capabilities.”

Developed by Lockheed Martin through a license from B-TEMIA, ONYX 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 the right torque at the right time to assist with walking up steep inclines, lifting or dragging heavy loads. An independent study by the University of Michigan confirmed these benefits by showing how ONYX users exerted less energy while walking up an incline with a 40-pound backpack.

Recently, ONYX received Popular Science magazine’s Grand Award in the Security category in their annual Best of What New 2018 Awards. Each year, Popular Science reviews thousands of new products in search of the top 100 tech innovations of the year. The brand selects 100 winners as well as 10 Grand Award winners – one from each of the categories. To win, a product or technology must represent a significant step forward in its category.