12 replies to this topic

[clone906]

What year do you think any one will make fully functioning iron man armor with all the weapons and components. I am thinking that we will need mind reading tech for flight controls but i'm not sure like with the repulsers and the lazers and all that other stuff he has.

[H3llion]

Possibly by 2050.

[Craven]

Some aspects will remain fictional - like fact that suit is nearly indestructible. But for example - I don't think you need mind reading. Exosuits that exist today are already quite good at predicting, interpreting and enchancing user movements. It's a combination of AI and sensors placed on skin, next to muscles.

[CyberMisterBeauty]

If the armor is made of graphene/carbon nanotubes the suit will be almost indestructible ...

[SG-1]

There is still the problem of blunt trauma and G forces. You wouldn't be able to fly so fast and turn all the corners. The software would be available somehwere in the 2025s - 2030s. The hardware, which will include but are not limited too, eating, small but powerful power unit, flight without rockets, rockets the size of bullets that target, and lasers, will all have to be small and efficient. 2050 seems to soon, even for just the flight without rockets, I wouldn't be surprised to see the robots in Iron Man 2 by the 2040s.

I want one.

[Craven]

If the armor is made of graphene/carbon nanotubes the suit will be almost indestructible ...

No, it won't be. Those are damn durable, but they're not magic.

[Tumaini12]

With today's technology, something very crudely approximating Iron Man may be possible - but nowhere near as tough, strong or agile as depicted in the movies. The suit's power would run out within minutes; the user would be very vulnerable. It would be ludicrously expensive to develop, and certainly not viable for mass production.

Artistic licence is such a liberating phenomenon!

[SG-1]

There is still the problem of blunt trauma and G forces. You wouldn't be able to fly so fast and turn all the corners. The software would be available somehwere in the 2025s - 2030s. The hardware, which will include but are not limited too, eating, small but powerful power unit, flight without rockets, rockets the size of bullets that target, and lasers, will all have to be small and efficient. 2050 seems to soon, even for just the flight without rockets, I wouldn't be surprised to see the robots in Iron Man 2 by the 2040s.

I want one.

Eating? I think I was off on another track and didn't delete back far enough lol.

Does anyone here have any ideas on how to get rid of inertia? Even if we could travel FTL, slowing down and accelerating will make the trip really long. Its also something that would be useful in an Iron Man suit.

[Fedricwalls]

It would be definitely take some times for developing this type of gadget and iron machinery. I am totally agree with that it may be possible in the era of 2050 or in the after so many years.

[Time_Traveller]

I'd definately go about 2050's.

[tornado64]

If LENR works I would say around 2040, if not, probably 2060 or later. The main issue is energy here.

[zen_mutiny]

I would suspect military deveopment would trend more towards aerial drones, which already fulfill much of Iron Man's job description. I imagine land and sea drones and all manners of hybrids will also be developed. Drones will eventually be the primary, if not only, frontline combatants. As far as supersuits go, the closest we'll probably see in the next 50 years would be waterproof, bulletproof (or close to it), cloaking powered armor for special operations forces. These suits would probably contain a whole suite of communication, tactical and strategic analysis, and targeting systems as well. Flight would be nice, but as I said above, aerial drones would most likely fulfill that role. However, I could see these already uberly suited special ops guys packing around some small, remote control recon and/or attack drones to aid them in their work.


I must say, though, a personal flight system, with or without Iron Man's armor and armaments would be pretty damn sweet for recreational or transportation purposes alone, however impractical it may be for military applications. Not that human flight wouldn't be an advantage on the battlefield, but why send in a flying man when you have expendable drones that do the job just as well, or even better?

Edited by zen_mutiny, 15 May 2012 - 10:31 PM.

[Guyverman1990]

Another major step in making it a reality would be the usage of Fusion to boost it.