FORCED FUN
Creepy ‘robot suit’ rave where dancers’ bodies are controlled by ‘exoskeletons’
RAVERS wearing robotic suits that force them to dance is Silicon Valley's latest crackpot idea.
Attendees donned "exoskeletons" at the Gray Area Festival in San Francisco, California, transforming them into creepy robo-puppets.
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These robotic ravers were then jerked around on a dance floor in front of a paying audience – with zero control over their limbs.
Making the situation even more bizarre, the entire performance was set to a "dark industrial techno" soundtrack.
The so-called Inferno exhibit was described by one Twitter user as a "force exoskeleton rave".
And they're not wrong: the rave's creators say it's designed to start conversations about technology, and human agency.
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All participants in the rave were controlled by a DJ, who managed both the music and the dance moves.
"Shifting the command from artist to computer and role of audience to performer, Inferno questions the nature of control and agency in the landscape of technology and performance today," the rave's description reads.
"At the frontier of art and technology, this interactive performance poses a remarkably unique experience questioning our world in its transformation."
The event only had 10 shows, and ran from July 25 to 28.
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But exoskeletons as a concept live on – and are becoming increasingly prominent in the world of robotics.
Last year, we revealed how the US Army is investing millions of dollars in experimental exoskeleton technology.
The Iron Man-style military kit is designed to make troops stronger and more resilient – turning them into 'super soldiers'.
The battery-operated technology - called Onyx - uses a range of sensors and artificial intelligence to aid natural movement.
Its job is to lighten the load for soldiers, who are deployed into war zones bogged down by heavy but essential gear such as body armour, nightvision goggles and radios.
Altogether, that kit can weigh anywhere up to 64kg (10st), when the recommended limit for battle troops is just 23kg (3st 6lb).
US Army is investing millions in exoskeleton technology to make RoboCop style ‘super soldiers’ stronger and more resilient
And The Sun also revealed how one expert predicts that by 2040, AI exoskeletons will make us as powerful as a forklift truck, and give us extra limbs and senses.
That's according to Dr Ian Pearson, a top futurologist with a proven record for predicting what lies in
The futurologist said: "The military wants super-strength soldiers and the rest of us don't stand much of a chance.
"We'll have soldiers with super senses who can see infra-red, ultraviolet and magnetic fields and who can run faster and throw harder."
But it's not just armies which can benefit from this incredible tech, which is already starting to emerge in robotics research labs.
Dr Pearson predicts exoskeleton tech will trickle down to the point where it's used by emergency services and then, soon enough, normal civilians.
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He said: "When you've got an earthquake or a fire, you really want the emergency services to have super strength too.
"If you put them in an exoskeleton, fire fighters could see through walls and just walk through the flames like Robocop."
The futurologist added that sports could also be revolutionised with the help of mech tech - creating whole events where athletes are allowed to compete with the help of robot exoskeletons.
Dr Pearson added: "In 2050 or thereabouts you'll probably start to see exoskeletons being used in a different stream of the Olympics."
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A quadriplegic ex-BMX biker has been testing a pioneering exoskeleton.
Russia is testing 'Robocop' exoskeleton armour that lets "cyborg squaddies" shoot with machine-like accuracy.
And Elon Musk has warned that robots will some day be too quick for the human eye.
Would you enjoy a forced rave? Let us know in the comments!
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