Raytheon-Sarcos pairs human control with robotic strength to do some heavy lifting

Sarcos, the robotics firm owned by widely known defense contractor Raytheon, is experimenting with a new design — one that wouldn’t look out of place on the set of Alien. KSL-TV got some time with the unnamed prototype, which gives a human operator access to two large robotic arms connected to a Ditch Witch that mimic the movement of their own arms. Unlike other robotic arms, these are the first ones featuring fingers and human-like movements of the wrist, elbows, and shoulders that are designed for workplace activities like heavy lifting. Fraser Smith, VP of Operations, claims that the prototype could make strength prerequisites obsolete in the workplace, and with no buttons or levers to worry about, it would require very little training. If this pans out, then we’re one step closer to finally achieving those robotic suits that Japanese mecha have been teasing for decades.