sorry this took me so long. had some carpel tunnel issues over the weekend so i couldnt type anything until it calmed down some.
Early Military Uses for ExoSuits:
Exosuits early on were developed as a natural progression from the old space suits used by astronauts in early days of space exploration. As tech increased, you could minimize many of the features found on enabling a much more streamlined and les s awkward movement for astronauts. While these suits were excellent for basic maintenance and moving around space stations, they were not durable enough for some tasks required of astro-engineers. To facilitate the construction of new Facilities outside of the atmosphere, Scientists utilized existing prosthetic technology (originally designed for medical applications) and modified it in order created the first Exosuits. These suits could increase strength of an engineer without sacrificing too much of his dexterity. With more weight capacity and surface area to work with, designers could also add more layers to the suits outer skins preventing punctures and even creating room for new systems.
Military officers immediately saw many applications for exosuits and the benefits they could offer, and started investing heavily into R&D into this new field. Since space warfare hadn’t yet become a large scale concern, having a exosuit being vacuum friendly was not necessary at this stage. Many of the environmental safeguards on suits were pulled off to allow for armor and more durable, if bulkier, materials for the frame. These early combat suits proved to be very useful for clearing out buildings, and tight infantry combat. The extra armor would allow them to take hits for their squad mates and the firepower boost let them hammer through whatever defenses an enemy might have established. The open battlefield was a different story however. The Bulky prototypes quickly proved ineffectual. While they did increase the armor for a single combat unit, tanks and heavy mechs proved to be far superior for that role. These early suits were also too heavy and limited the unit’s mobility drastically. They were most suited towards staying toward the rear lines laying down fire support, which again, there were much better units to choose from for roles like that. Still determined to find a way to make these viable, more money was thrown at projects to improve designs.
Time and effort eventually paid off with the creation of combat unit that revolutionized modern warfare. Dubbed the Centurion, this design simplified many of the internal ‘muscle’ systems of the previous suit preventing many of the rigid awkward movements that earlier suits were limited to. While the weight capacity and raw power of the Centurion was actually less than its predecessors, the new design allowed the pilot to make far better use of what the strength did supply. The new design also modified many of the joints and movement systems in a way that it actually increased a soldier’s movement instead of impeding it. Also being able to wield more powerful weapons made the Centurion a force to be reckoned with. Simply put, The Centurion combat unit made your infantryman stronger, faster, and tougher than other units on the field and they were cheap enough to justify entering into production and integration into the armed forces. There was also a modified version which traded out some of the armor to make it space viable to be used for research facilities off world. This unit laid the bulwark for subsequent units.
Recent Developments in Exo use:
As exosuits became more ingrained into military combat, the need for diversity in abilities arose. Some units were given increased weight capacities, armor and armament while others put their stock in supreme speed and maneuverability. As Exosuits diversified, 3 general unit styles clarified they’re own roles. Dreadnaught Exos were the toughest units used to drive enemies back, or lead a charge by absorbing damage with their sturdy frames and laying down devastating firepower from their main weapons as well as additional gun mounts that were added onto more complex models typically a good load out for squad leaders or commanding officers. Your Basic assault frame was an all-around suit designed for a good mix of firepower, armor and mobility. This was the most common unit for basic infantry units. Light frames decided that if you didn’t get hit, you wouldn’t need to worry about durability. Light exosuits typically Trade armor and armament in exchange for exceptional agility, speed, and camouflage. The Light exosuits role is a complex mix of recon, flanking enemies and The basic set up for an exo squad would be 1 dreadnaught, 2-3 assault frames, and 1 scout.
TR-E(Trec series) Legendary exosuit- Terrain Recon unit or TR was a project to make exosuit movement feel as close to a natural extension of human abilities. Many scout pilots had complained about Scout exosuits feeling like they were limited because their suits didn’t feel natural. In a unit where maneuverability and speed are of utmost importance, researchers tried to create a new model that emulated human movment to the best of their abilities. The first model (A series) was widely considered a failure. While its construction more closely resembled human muscular systems, it was weak and calibrated poorly. Subsequent models made many improvements resulting in the famous E series (TR-e207). This was the most natural feeling chasis created to date, with excellent power to weight ratio and a phenomenal top speed.