Norfolk Navy Shipyard introducing exoskeletons for workers

Young journalists club

News ID: 32561
Publish Date: 11:16 - 08 December 2018
TEHRAN, December 08 -The Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia is introducing exoskeletons for heavy manual work designed to prevent injuries and fatigue, according to the Navy.

Norfolk Navy Shipyard introducing exoskeletons for workersTEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) -The Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia is introducing exoskeletons for heavy manual work designed to prevent injuries and fatigue, according to the Navy.

The Robotics Subcommittee has been investigating technologies that will assist shipyard employees. The Levitate AIRFRAME is a flexible mechanical back-mounted unit that helps stabilize core muscle and reduces physical energy expended by up to 80 percent, according to Levitate.

"The flight tests demonstrated the system works very well in its intended environment," AFNWC material leader said Col. Paul Rounsavall said in a statement. "This development effort brought the first-ever digital interface to the B61 family of weapons and demonstrated the B61-12 TKA's compatibility with the Air Force's B-2 and F-15 aircraft."

The program falls under the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. The department is the umbrella organization for the nation's military and civilian nuclear infrastructure.

The B61-12 is the planned modernized version of the B61 air-dropped nuclear weapon that has been in use with upgrades since the 1960s.

It is a thermonuclear "dial-a-yield" device which can be set for explosive yields ranging from a tactical 0.3 kilotons for battlefield use, up to 340 kilotons for strategic targets.

It is part of the Enduring Stockpile program for old weapons left over from Cold War arsenals and is the primary air-dropped nuclear weapon deployed by the U.S.

The version being upgraded will have GPS guidance and can be mounted on most standard fighters and bombers with the U.S. and allied nations such as NATO members.

Source: UPI

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