Aspiring Iron Man Builds Working Exoskeleton, Lifts 170 Pounds

It’s been a long road for Youtuber “The Hacksmith” to go from inspiration to working prototype. Originally inspired by the exo-suit worn by Matt Damon in Elysium, his real working version is now in the testing phase. So far, he’s successfully lifted 170 pounds of concrete and steel.  It’s built on a backpack-like frame with pneumatic cylinders connected to an air compressor for power.

The frame is made of perforated steel, square tubing, and a festo valve bank which regulates the air pressure. The pneumatics are rated for 250 psi and his current compressor operates at 125 psi.  The Hacksmith predicts that with a stronger air compressor, he could double the lifting capacity.

This project is a significant stepping stone toward his ultimate goal: making his own real world Iron Man suit!

Check out the video of the 170 pound barbell curl test: