There is a body of feature films, mainly live-action, featuring powered exoskeletons. [note 1] Popular Mechanics said the growth of visual effects at the start of the 21st century allowed for such exoskeletons to be featured more prominently in live-action films. [1] LiveScience said in 2013 that it was fairly common to see powered exoskeletons in films and that it helped educate the public about potential real-life use. [2]
Film | Year | Ref. |
---|---|---|
Aliens | 1986 | [1] |
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 | 2014 | [3] |
The Ambushers | 1967 | [4] |
Avatar: The Way of Water | 2022 | |
The Avengers | 2012 | [5] |
Avengers: Age of Ultron | 2015 | [6] |
Avengers: Infinity War | 2018 | [7] |
Avengers: Endgame | 2019 | |
Batman & Robin | 1997 | [8] |
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | 2016 | [9] |
Basket Case 3: The Progeny | 1992 | [10] |
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | 2022 | [11] |
Captain America: Civil War | 2016 | [12] |
Edge of Tomorrow | 2014 | [13] |
Elysium | 2013 | [13] |
Exo-Man | 1977 | [14] |
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra | 2009 | [15] |
Iron Man | 2008 | [1] |
Iron Man 2 | 2010 | [1] |
Iron Man 3 | 2013 | [16] |
Invasion (2020 film) | 2020 | |
Spider-Man: Homecoming | 2017 | [17] |
Star Kid | 1998 | [18] |
Starship Troopers 3: Marauder | 2008 | [8] |
The Guyver | 1991 | |
The Master Mystery | 1919 | [19] |
The Tuxedo | 2002 | [8] |
The Wolverine | 2013 | [20] |
The Wrong Trousers | 1993 | [21] |
Halo 4: Forward Unto Dawn | 2012 | [22] |
In science fiction, mecha or mechs are giant robots or machines typically depicted as piloted and as humanoid walking vehicles. The term was first used in Japanese after shortening the English loanword 'mechanism' or 'mechanical', but the meaning in Japanese is more inclusive, and 'robot' or 'giant robot' is the narrower term.
Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #39 in 1963, and received his own title with Iron Man #1 in 1968. Shortly after his creation, Iron Man was a founding member of a superhero team, the Avengers, with Thor, Ant-Man, Wasp and the Hulk. Iron Man stories, individually and with the Avengers, have been published consistently since the character's creation.
Strange and exotic weapons are a recurring feature in science fiction. In some cases, weapons first introduced in science fiction have been made a reality; other science-fiction weapons remain purely fictional, and are often beyond the realms of known physical possibility.
Crimson Dynamo is the name of several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics who have all been powered armor–wearing Russian or Soviet agents who have clashed with the superhero Iron Man over the course of his heroic career.
Science fiction is an important genre of modern Japanese literature that has strongly influenced aspects of contemporary Japanese pop culture, including anime, manga, video games, tokusatsu, and cinema.
Iron Monger is an alias used by multiple fictional characters, supervillains appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The first character to use the alias is Obadiah Stane, who first appeared in Iron Man #163. The Iron Monger armor first appeared in Iron Man #200.
Virginia "Pepper" Potts is a character appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writers Stan Lee and Robert Bernstein, and designed by artist Don Heck, the character first appeared in Tales of Suspense #45. Pepper Potts is a supporting character and love interest of the superhero Tony Stark / Iron Man. The character has also been known as Hera and Rescue at various points in her history.
A superpower is a special or extraordinary superhuman ability that is greater than what is considered normal. Superpowers are typically displayed in science fiction and fantasy comic books, television programs, video games, and films as the key attribute of a superhero. The concept originated in American comic books and pulp magazines of the 1930s and 1940s, and has gradually worked its way into other genres and media.
Mecha anime and manga, known in Japan as robot anime and robot manga, are anime and manga that feature robots (mecha) in battle. The genre is broken down into two subcategories; "super robot", featuring super-sized, implausible robots, and "real robot", where robots are governed by realistic physics and technological limitations.
The Iron Patriot is a patriotism-themed exoskeleton used by several fictional characters appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics.
Iron Man 3 is a 2013 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character Iron Man, produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to Iron Man (2008) and Iron Man 2 (2010), and the seventh film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Shane Black from a screenplay he co-wrote with Drew Pearce, and stars Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark / Iron Man alongside Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Rebecca Hall, Stéphanie Szostak, James Badge Dale, William Sadler, Miguel Ferrer, Jon Favreau, and Ben Kingsley. In the film, Tony Stark grapples with the consequences of the events of The Avengers (2012) during a national terrorism campaign on the United States led by the mysterious Mandarin.
Christopher Aaron Wyatt, sometimes credited as Chris "Doc" Wyatt is an American film producer, writer, and second unit director.
E. Paul Zehr is a Canadian professor of kinesiology and neuroscience, and a science communicator at the University of Victoria, in British Columbia, Canada. He is known for his work in the neural control of human locomotion—particularly how the arms and legs interact during walking and neural plasticity associated with exercise training and rehabilitation. Zehr is best known to the general public as the author of the popular science books Becoming Batman: The Possibility of a Superhero (2008), Inventing Iron Man: The Possibility of a Human Machine (2011), Project Superhero (2014), and Chasing Captain America (2018).
A powered exoskeleton is a mobile machine that is wearable over all or part of the human body, providing ergonomic structural support and powered by a system of electric motors, pneumatics, levers, hydraulics or a combination of cybernetic technologies, while allowing for sufficient limb movement with increased strength and endurance. The exoskeleton is designed to provide better mechanical load tolerance, and its control system aims to sense and synchronize with the user's intended motion and relay the signal to motors which manage the gears. The exoskeleton also protects the user's shoulder, waist, back and thigh against overload, and stabilizes movements when lifting and holding heavy items.
Lego Super Heroes is a theme and product range of the Lego construction toy, introduced in 2011, owned by The Lego Group and licensed from DC Entertainment, Marvel Entertainment, Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company and Pixar.
Kuratas is a rideable and user-operated mecha built by the Japanese company Suidobashi Heavy Industry. Billed as "the world's first giant boarding robot", the Kuratas was unveiled when the website was opened in 2012. It was demonstrated at Wonder Festival. In June 2015, MegaBots challenged Suidobashi Heavy Industry to its first robot duel confronting Kuratas versus their Mark II.
Legacy Effects, LLC is an American special effects studio specializing in creature design, prosthetic makeup, animatronics, and specialty suits.
TALOS was the name given to a powered exoskeleton, first proposed in 2013, that United States Special Operations Command intended to design with the help of universities, laboratories, and the technology industry. The brief for TALOS stated that it had to be bulletproof, weaponized, have the ability to monitor vitals and give the wearer enhanced strength and perception. The suit would comprise layers of smart material and sensors. The suit may have not been intended for an entire squad, but to protect a lead operator who would breach a door first, the most vulnerable team operator in that situation. TALOS was not a program as such; it has been described as an "effort".
Anthony Edward Stark is a fictional character primarily portrayed by Robert Downey Jr. in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) media franchise—based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name—commonly known by his alias, Iron Man. Stark is initially depicted as an industrialist, genius inventor, and former playboy who is CEO of Stark Industries. Initially the chief weapons manufacturer for the U.S. military, he has a change of heart and redirects his technical knowledge into the creation of mechanized suits of armor which he uses to defend Earth.
Phase One of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. The MCU is the shared universe in which all of the films are set. The phase began in May 2008 with the release of Iron Man and concluded in May 2012 with the release of The Avengers. Kevin Feige produced every film in the phase, with Avi Arad also producing Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk, and Gale Anne Hurd also producing The Incredible Hulk.
Iron Man's armor acts as an exoskeleton, but it's also a prosthetic. The Arc Reactor powers that exoskeleton and also keeps the shrapnel out of Tony Stark's heart, very literally keeping him alive.