A Canadian named Troy Hurtubise, invented a superhuman body suit specifically designed to be worn by troops and police officers which he claims is capable of stopping a range of weapons fire, blades and even shrapnel from IEDs.
This isn’t Troy’s first dance either. He previously invented a suit which was intended to be able to survive a bear attack, and even made a video of it.
Here is a short take from the Project Grizzly video:
The Hamilton Spectator had the following to say about the new suit:
The grizzly man is back, and this time he’s ready to take on bullets and bombs.
Troy Hurtubise, the Hamilton-born inventor who became famous for his bulky bear-protection suit by standing in front of a moving vehicle to prove it worked, has now created a much slimmer suit that he hopes will soon be protecting Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan and U.S. soldiers in Iraq.
He has spent two years and $15,000 in the lab out back of his house in North Bay, designing and building a practical, lightweight and affordable shell to stave off bullets, explosives, knives and clubs. He calls it the Trojan and describes it as the “first ballistic, full exoskeleton body suit of armour.”
And here is a short video of The Trojan body suit:
Unfortunately development of this suit has driven Troy into bankruptcy and earlier this year he tried to sell the suit on eBay, but the reserve was not met.
hey does anybody know the patent numbers or how he made the plating for the suit or just what its made out of?
Dude, I’ve experimented with aluminum. It isn’t the best stuff, but if you alloy it with yttrium and compress the metal down, aluminum can become very tough. The lights on the helmet are somewhat understandable, but only if you have some way of turning them on and off without them being just smaller flashlights. I’ve seriously seen some better ideas on an old model Jeep with the floodlights. Besides if the soldiers are out at night trying not to be seen, why would they use a bright LED light to see? You should really think about that. I mean some car company even made a car with a night vision windshield. It worked with just a simple switch and provided good visibility at night. Not that the car ever sold, but that was because the military needed the supplies instead of some civilians. The color could also be changed to a slight yellow tint, so that the soldier could worry less about the sun’s glare. That would help in almost any environment, because the sun can reach practically everywhere. That would have been much better. Also, are we forgetting about something called chemical warfare? The suit could have easily integrated a gas filter. Even a simple nose and mouth covering from Home Depot would be better than that suit’s helmet. Also, is it a full body covering? There are flannel jumpsuits that cover more of the body and protect form cold, most impact, and could stop a bullet. Even if the suit used tin, he could’ve compressed the tin enough and craft the plating in a form-fitting design then the suit would be twice as good as that waste of plastic he made. He could have still used plastic, the new smart plastic that is fairly cheap and can stop most small caliber rounds and absorb most of the impact from a hit or fall. Seriously, he either didn’t know the right people or resources or just plain and simple forgot them. And are we forgetting that he said it was exo-armor? That would mean that it would have something to amplify the user’s strength. This could include micro-hydraulics or even the pretty high tech myomer fibers that are almost out of the developing stage. Both of those pose their own problems, but they would be better than that pile of junk. I, personally, favor the myomer fiber as they could be formed into a form fitting suit and then armored.
I would SOOOOOOO buy tht…porb cost about 25k but worth it…only thing im worried about is how to refil th bear repellent
I mean this is obviously not the most advanced thing people could come up with these days. This could maybe used alright in a swat unit or riot control group but I think it’s a bit impractical and as many above me have mentioned not completely well thought out. If your going to make a ridiculous helmet/visor situation at least try and get some tech in it. I’d like to see some of the HUD technology(Heat vision mode, night vision mode) and distance scaling tech (software for calculating bullet trajectory) already being developed by others incorporated with some microporcessors somewhere. Work more on the internal cooling system and make the visor bigger and not not red and bulletproof( personally a thickened version of interrogation room glass would be sick having that mirrored look). Streamline body more and think about synthetic bio-weaves or something that could protect the un armored areas that is clothe. (I hear there is already development on synthetic fibers that have sort of an elastic bounce to them and when form fitted to someone can actually multiply the force of leg and arm movements by some small percent.). I Think this idea is great really, but it is just too premature now. There are resources for this kind of technology to come into play already; the problem is that many of the ideal components are still in developmental stages (Light wieght balistic composite materials for armor shell, hud tech and mico computers, nano fiber composites, power assisted movement, etc.) and being thus cannot easily be all conglomerated into a nice uniform package. Seeing as they are probably patented and probably are developing their own products with such inventions; until they are are somewhat standardized in the market (which won’t probably happen within the next 5 years and probably not for way longer) they simply wont be available for other development). The military im sure finances alot of these types of researchers though o im sure they have prototypes already that are way better than this guys attempt but thats just my guess
Remember that this is not a large corporation producing this. Also remember he bankrupted himself putting 15,000 into the suit. Name any armor company that could produce armor like that for 15k in that time, and have it available to civilians.
how do you go to the bathroom
Not while fighting, but you would have to take that armor completely off.
Get real folks. This is not an armor suit, this is a poor, poor, poor prototype to stimulate funding opportunities, which it did not, with good reason. As most have concluded, when your selling an OC spray device, and a world clock that is strapped to your crotch (instead of being integrated within the HUD inside the helmet) without a single discussion of the level of armor and actual ballistics tests of even standalone plating (doesn’t have to be a whole suit), your a freakin idiot, and any one of you that called this man a genius or brilliant is just as dim. The only way this guy will accomplish this goal, is for someone to unintelligently give him enough money to hire real inventors, engineers, and scientists. He will get the glory for someone else’s work, the American way! (truistic sarcasm) – But at least a real product might develop. And for Mr. brightstar who said he would put this on before existing IBA, IOTV etc, have right at it! We could use a few less idiots in this world. One shot in the torso, and you got shrapnel in your neck, cause there is no cover. This is a semi-rigid exoskeleton, not a soft skin, it can easily support socketed neck protection.
Anywho…. Please do not perpetuate this idiots potential to produce a protective product, he is obviously is more concerned with videos and pictures, since that is all he has accomplished in 20 years. – how did he get a spot on the news? Oh yeah, cause the rest of the world is freakin stupid too, and don’t know enough about mechanics / physics to change a flat tire, let alone determine that this guys goalie outfit would not last ….. lets see 3800 fps at 400 meters….. less than one second in real combat. And if you think that any plastic or padding is even recognized by high brisant explosive that moves at 21,000 ft per second, or can endure the low frequency high-pressure shock developed as that explosive translates through armor, you A FREAKIN IDIOT!
Thank GOD that the military requires feasibility, and specific requirements to be met before you can even bid on a project. AND THIS FREAKIN IDIOT SHOULD BE ON THE POSTER OF WHO NOT TO ALLOW TO DEVELOP PROTECTION FOR REAL SOLDIERS!
True, but get real humans fight each other more than they work together. Besides, at least this guy actually tried to make something in the somewhat right direction, and he does have some proof of that.
Yeah, he SAYS it would cost $2000.00 to mass produce but I call BS on that. The thing nearly bankrupted him to make,
As for the whole bulletproof deal, I SEVERLY doubt it, the thing weighs around 40Lb from some of his statements. With modern technology there’s just no way that could be bulletproof over its entirety with its huge bulk of the helmet and suit, that would require some seriously incredible chemistry/molecular physics and a full lab to develop the materials capable of that kind of performance.
Obviously this guy is either insane or just making stuff up, given his demaneour and general behaviour I’m edging towards the former.
Not true. if he used some of the better smart plastics, but as the rest of us are already saying he didn’t. Still, it isn’t impossible or, for that matter, expensive.
I don’t care about how it looks. If it can stop a bullet and keeps me light on my feet I would wear it. Hell if it’d help I’d put it on for a live fire test in the name of science. The design I’m not digging much, but like I said who cares.
I could do without the clock and the red helmet visor is probably going to get to me. I say with a bit more investment this would have been possible to be put to use. Even if it failed at least this is a stepping stone to future warefare.
only thing missing is a friken energy shield
in truth it looks cool and everything but as i read he does need videos of not only the suit being shot at but someone living inside the suit getting shot at.
also 2000 dollars may not seem like a lot but the current suits can be made for less then one hundred dollars in the USA army. also you could make a very effective full metal body suit of armor for two thousand dollars if not less if you mass produce it. his helmet wow i have to say that is not something i would want on my head all day and night. it could make you go color blind after about one year of full use. improvements he should make the suit with a neck guard and the knee armor longer so when you go down on one knee it keeps protecting your joints. plus he needs to make adjustsments to the joints so you can protect them more because he leaves open large spots on his front
If you made a full metal armor suit, imagine how much that would weigh, this is only 50 pounds
why,d he need to build in those silly LED’s ? :DDD
This is a look in to the future. This suit will save the lives of soldiers all over the world and only for what? $2,000.00? A good deal the price should go down to if you put in in an assembly line. (If any one knows a way i can contact him let me know “jamesprudhomme@live.com” i have some ideas i want to talk to him about.)
He has a website at http://www.inventortroy.com , and his email is troy@inventortroy.com.
Hope that helps.
I disagree with some of your comments. I would have to say 1: some of you have said it would not be good for close combat? It would be wonderful. You think its not mobile? Are you serious? look at the standing positions he does. Also, if someone is attacking you in close combat, you wont feel any hits, they will but you wont. So, you wont have to worry about being hurt. It wont matter what hits they give you, you can take it. Plus a hit given to an attacking enemy from those arms or legs covered in that will definately hurt the attacker. 2. The helmet, you complain about its look? Wow get real. If you were out there in real combat, and you saw that helmet on the ground you would put it on to cover your face, regardless how it looks. I will have to say people, your comments are pretty pathetic. I would rather wear this suit then the jackets, pants, back pack, or chest body armor they have in the forces today. Get real people. If I was the enemy of America and I saw an army of American soldiers in that suit I would be scared out of my mind, yea I would take a few shots at them but it wouldnt do anything. It would definately be unmotivating for me the enemy to keep fighting, Just as it would be when we develop laser weapons, Me being the enemy having a bullet weapon getting shot at by lasers? I would run.
Well, said sir…
I have to agree that the suit’s helmet is the primary down point…it’s just ridiculous. There’s a fine line between looking cool and functionality, and he has definitely crossed into the land of dumb on that. The suit is bulky and if you watch his silly little scenario video, he’s obviously encumbered by the limited mobility of the whole thing. The real problem with a full suit is that you have to sacrifice mobility for protection in the joints, and the biggest flaw I see is that most of the pieces are strapped on like hockey/soccer pads, so, yes the front will be protected, but no one ever gets shot in the back, right?
I have been doing LARP (Live Action Role Play) for damn near 10 years, and I say that a conglomeration of sporting equipment with flashy doo-dad’s and stuff is good for taking the force of a padded weapon and some limited blunt force, hell I even have some “play” armor that has stopped an actual sharp blade, but this abomination would have been better if he’d have stopped trying to make it pretty and focused on actual protection.
Something a little less science-fiction coupled with Lockheed’s HULC or any various other experimental body armor/exoskeletons is the key to solving the crisis of fulfilling all the nerdy guys like me’s aspirations of running around looking like Master Chief or Iron Man, and the devastation of morale of the enemy from seeing such a beast in battle. I, like most guys in my generation, great up watching power rangers and voltron and crap like that, it would be great if things like that existed for our military, but even if it is possible, it will be sometime before it can be made plausible…
I think the guy is certainly clever, maybe even brilliant, however, I think he did not take certain things into account.
The fellow made seven versions of the boots alone. He cared as much about appearence as functionality. Loot what it got him.
Yes, it is certainly functional, so it seems, but he did not do any live fire testing. People are rather cynical and skeptical until they see for themselves. This fellow, for all his brains, has little common sense. With all the money he pumped into making seven sets of boots, and whatever other nonsense he put into the suit, he could have made two suits. One suit could have been solely for a single live fire test, which could be recorded and shown to prospective customers. Recoded under controled conditions, and done by an independent party that is.
Also, let’s be fair, I think the suit looks ludicrous. Too much bulky plastic, when he could have mde it much more streamlined. People won’t wear something if it looks gooft, even if it will save their lives, Amercian troops have already proven that.
With all that bulky as plastic he could have attached a cooling unit somewhere. Had this guy looked into actual minature cooling devices, and incorporated one into the suit, well, now that would have been a major breakthrough.
I also need to say, 150,000 dollars? This guy is a fool. If it can be mass produced for 2,000, it should not have cost 150,000 to produce, even if it is a prototype. The guy has a lot of experience with past suits, he simply tinkered away far too much, making 7 of almost everything, except not enough for even 2 complete suits. Like seven sets of gloves and shoes.
The helmet is also a joke. The red visor for one thing, why red? MY guess is he figured this would blunt the flash of explosions, hoever we have a simple way of doing that now, just look away. Seeing red al the time would definitely mess ith your vision. Also, the visibility is clearly limited.
As for all the little doo dads he added, stupidity, made me take it less seriously, not more. Instead of wasting money on those things, make the suit itself better.
I also don’t get why he used so much plastic. Again, reminds me of a kiddy toy. Thin sheets of aluminum would have been better, mnolded aluminum, or titanium. Aluminum has a low melting point, and molds very well. He he used sheet of say 1/16 of an inch or less, would not have added too much weight. The plastic is just there for show anyhow, at least aluminum would not shatter when hit by bullets, like plastic would.
Also, this fellow did no planning, had no email adress even, no one had any way of getting in contact with him. I think this guy lives in la la land. While he may be smart, he is also very dumb in real world marketing terms/ In the right hands, and with the right vision, a suit like this, with a few small changes, could have worked. However, this guy, he ain’t it. Brialliant inventors are often the worst at real world business.
My take on the suit. If it works, and provides full level 3 protection, from head to toe, is that it is a great job.
However, the sad thing is, it’s already behind tech wise. New suits are being developed using gels which are flexible, but become rigid and can shatter bullets when struck with them. Means actual clothing, from pants to shirts could be made that offer level 3 or greater protection. That and you would not look mlike a geek from a video game.
Sory pal, but your suit, as noble an effort as it is, was poorly marketed, and poorly concieved. You were a wimp, doing no live trials or tests that could be verified. I saw one clip of him pulling a 9 mil round out of something, not the suit though.
If you are going to make a bullet proof suit prototype, make two, because people will have to see it stand up to live fire before they believe.
This guy, brilliant but stupid.
I love inventors that think like 13 year old acne faced console gamers, who think the more ill-conceived sci-fi like gadgets that the military would never use they can pack into something, thus increasing weight and decreasing combat useability, the better of course noone wants it, it’s not powered, doesn’t have an environmental system, or NBC provisions is too cumbersome with low visibility judging from the size of the viewports. Like the bear suit, it’s pretty much only good for taking hits but not being combat effective which requires situational awareness and mobility. Good initiative bad judgement, it looks pretty cool but is not well engineered, sorry, it’s the critique of a former marine turned mechanical engineer.
uhmm how much and when are you going to start making more productions
Hes bankrupt! wow what a sad story…
guy makes great suit and goes bankrupt…
The first suit seems ridiculous as he can barely walk with it, the second one looks amazing but i was expecting a sniper shot test :P
Totally awesome, eh!