Celeste Biever and Rowan Hooper at New Scientist discuss the real world science featured in the new (Ma8, 2008) movie:
1. Superhero skin – An ‘Iron Man’ suit does not exist but portions of a wearable exoskeleton does.
2. Flying machines -SoloTrek was a flying exoskeleton that was apparently capable of travelling more than 200 kilometres. (The project shut down after a crash in 2002.) UK inventor and pilot Stuart Ross reckons his Rocketbelt packs enough power to lift him 2500 metres in the air and plans to test fly the latest model this year.
3. Friendly bots - In the movie, Stark has a friendly robot to help him build his armour. It looks too clever to be true, but in fact it is highly reminiscent of AUR. Built last year by MIT scientists, AUR is a robotic desk lamp that calculates where you are looking and moves its flexible neck to shine light on that spot.
