{"id":2758,"date":"2018-03-13T09:26:58","date_gmt":"2018-03-13T12:26:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nachodelatorre.com.ar\/mosconi\/?p=2758"},"modified":"2018-03-13T09:26:58","modified_gmt":"2018-03-13T12:26:58","slug":"el-us-army-desarrolla-el-tercer-brazo-para-sus-soldados","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fie.undef.edu.ar\/ceptm\/?p=2758","title":{"rendered":"El US Army desarrolla el “tercer brazo” para sus soldados"},"content":{"rendered":"

El \u201cTercer Brazo\u201d desarrollado por el Army Research Laboratory (ARL), est\u00e1 dise\u00f1ado para redistribu\u00edr eficientemente\u00a0\u00a0el peso de las armas que los soldados llevan en sus brazos y hombros, hacia el torax y abdomen. Ello hace m\u00e1s f\u00e1cil el transporte del armamento por per\u00edodos prolongados, beneficiando la salud a largo plazo de los combatientes Pero fundamentalmente, permite que las armas contin\u00faen en aptitud de r\u00e1pido empleo, mientras alguno de los brazos realiza otra funci\u00f3n.<\/p>\n

The US Army\u2019s \u2018Third\u00a0Arm\u2019 is designed to\u00a0redistribute some of the weight soldiers carry in their\u00a0arms\u00a0and shoulders to their abdomen. This could make carrying heavy equipment and weapons over long distances much easier, lowering the short and long-term impact on troops\u2019 health. Launched in 2015, the mechanical\u00a0arm\u00a0is about to enter its next phase of testing.<\/p>\n

Reminiscent of the\u00a0M56A2 Smart Guns toted by Colonial Marines\u00a0in the movie\u00a0Aliens<\/em>, the Third\u00a0Arm\u00a0was designed to help stabilise a soldier\u2019s\u00a0rifle\u00a0and also spread the weapon\u2019s weight. While The development prototype is frequently photographed holding an\u00a0airsoft\u00a0M4, the applications for hefting around an M240 over long distances are clear.<\/p>\n

One of the mechanical engineers working on the project,\u00a0Dan Baechle,\u00a0told the\u00a0Army News Service, that \u201cright now we have a prototype that\u2019s essentially a research platform that we\u2019re using to investigate different types of materials\u201d he explained that \u201cmaterials and structures\u00a0can\u00a0stabilize a weapon or a\u00a0shield, reduce fatigue on the Soldiers\u2019\u00a0arms, but also improve accuracy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Engineers at the Army Research Lab (ARL) unveiled the\u00a0Arm\u00a0at the 2017\u00a0AUSA conference. The\u00a03.5 lb\u00a0mechanical apparatus has already undergone some troop testing last summer. Development of the\u00a0armbegan in 2015, with the second prototype\u00a0model\u00a0now being tested.<\/p>\n

Baechle explained the original ideas behind the Third\u00a0Arm:<\/p>\n

We started out with just trying to think of a way to help improve the lethality for the dismounted Soldier\u2026 Generally that means stabilizing the weapon or giving the Soldier a more powerful weapon.\u00a0Can\u00a0we stabilize that weapon to improve accuracy? But also if we\u2019re stabilizing the weapon and taking the load off of the Soldiers\u2019\u00a0arms, does that improve the Soldier\u2019s readiness? Does it also improve the Soldier\u2019s accuracy with the weapon?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Initial test feedback from troops\u00a0saw\u00a0the arm\u2019s mounting point shifted from the front to the lower back. ARL hopes to continue improving the\u00a0Arm\u00a0to maximise comfort for the user, minimise fatigue and help improve soldiers\u2019\u00a0aim.\u00a0The Army plans to run another\u00a0round\u00a0of testing in the\u00a0Spring, this time with 15 soldiers. ARL researchers hope that with further development the\u00a0Arm\u00a0might be able to help reduce felt\u00a0recoil\u00a0too.<\/p>\n

Of course systems like the Third\u00a0Arm\u00a0raise questions about mobility, reliability in the field and potential loss of flexibility for soldier\u2019s using them. But the ARL\u2019s Third\u00a0Arm\u00a0is just one of a number of programs aimed at lightening the soldier\u2019s burden, through mechanical engineering, currently underway around the world.<\/p>\n