Is "Predator" possible?













You know I love conjecture. I’ve talked about whether there could be zombies or vampires or werewolves, so why not the Predator from the movies?

Invisibility cloak: This is the most important aspect of the Predator. He needs to be able to hunt without detection. In the movie, the creature can turn his cloaking ability off. This is not only possible but should be out for use by 2011! Original designs had a costume with tons of little squares on it that worked like television screens. A camera attached to the backside of your outfit interprets what’s behind you and shows it on the little screens so people don’t necessarily see you, but see images of what should be there if you weren’t there.. Make sense? From How Stuff Works: “However, another team is working on a cloak that because of its weight and thickness and being made of metamaterials that don’t absorb or refract light, it will redirect it. Currently, the team is only capable of working with wavelengths larger than light. They have the statistics to prove that invisibility is possible, but at the moment, it's still theoretical.”

How about the exoskeleton with its neat gadgets and protection? Yup, we can do it! From tacticalwarfightergear“The history of exploration and development of bionic external skeletal structures goes back nearly fifty years. New emerging designs for warfighters are patterned after these early Hardiman models. Overview objectives for this project boil down to several main points with several critical sub-functions attached. • Feature: Bulletproof Ballistic Protection. • Function: Hydraulic Assisted Bionic Enhance • Nanotechnology enhanced Bio-Med Sensors. • Compact Silent Renewable Powered Energy. • Internal Personal Portable Cooling system.” (Photo above) (Tell me if this ad for it doesn't sound like something from "Terminator"): What the exoskeleton program at DARPA plans to do is turn ordinary soldiers into super-troops who can leap tall objects and run at high speeds. This program is progressing through beta testing with promising results. DARPA has set specifications for exoskeletory machines. Here's what researchers are demanding from exoskeletonizing humans with machines:
• Increased strength - Soldiers must be able to carry more weapons and supplies. With increased strength, exoskeletonsoldiers must also be able to remove large obstacles from their path while marching. • Increased speed - Average humans walk 4 to 6 mph, but special operations soldiers are often expected to carry up to 150 pounds of supplies in their backpacks. Most of today's troops cannot go fast enough carrying this much weight and armor on their backs when fighting with aloof fleet-footed enemies burdened only by AK-47s and RPGs. These units will need to advance until they can deliver speeds faster than 15-20 mph. • Jumping and Leaping Capabilities – Mechanical suited exoskeleton soldiers must be able to leap over obstacles such as vehicles and small buildings obstructing their mission. Soldiers will benefit from increased endurance when marching long distances over unpredictable terrain. With increased strength, they will also be able to repair heavy equipment that would otherwise be impossible to repair. Experts expect fewer casualties because of increased body armor.

The ultrasonic sensor that traces a ricochet to find out its origin point. Possible! Of course, whether the military will talk about it, who knows…

Now, if you recall the Predator had the ability to fix himself up—he was biological beneath the suit of armor. He carried his own cautery kit which would be feasible to seal an injury closed. This is much like those old-fashioned techniques of heating up a knife blade and applying it to seal a cut closed. Portable cautery kits are available.

In the future might man go to other planets geared out like the Predator? Oh yeah, certainly could. Would we, however attach mini rocket launchers to our suits and collect skulls? I hope not, but you never know what space might do to men in a dream hunting suit.

So far as the bad-ass rastas---I think our soldiers are gonna be on their own with that accessory…

Comments

  1. I'm aware of the "Supersoldier" programs and stuff like "chameleon cammo" and all. And I'm all for improving a soldier's survivability of course. My big problem with the "Predator" (movies) is that it seems to me that all the high-tech, advanced gear and weapons took the "sport" out of the hunt.
    The odds were a little more even in the AVP movies, since the "Aliens" are pretty tough muthas.
    But when it comes to the idea of hunting humans, "The Most Dangerous Game" was enough of a mismatch for me!

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  2. BG;
    Well, I did appreciate on "Predator" when the alien wanted to undo his protective gear and go mano y mano with Schwarzenegger. Even he knew that this human was a good and worthy opponent. "What in the hell are you?" I loved that line. I agree about the soldiers. I admit to being enough of a pacivist that I hate we need to have warfare, but I also know man's tendencies and they won't play nice, no matter how big the playground. So, with that said and being from a Navy family, I appreciate all that is done to make them more efficient and safe!!! I have to admit, I love the thriller movies that involve people hunting humans. I find it intriguing. I always wanted to see a movie where the deer hunt the humans!

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  3. Stephen Hawking worries that there might be bad guys out in space.
    Anything is possible.

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  4. Evel;
    See? That movie is just an example...

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