If you went out and saw the recently released "Iron Man" movie, chances are that at some point during the film you envisioned what life would be like to own a suit that gave you superhuman abilities. What would you do if your strength was amplified 5 times? 10 times? 20 times its current capability?

A robotics technician in Salt Lake City has developed an actual "Iron Man" suit that, when worn, increases human strength by 20 times its current capability. The robotics firm, Sarcos, now holds a lucrative contract with the United States Army to develop the 150-pound "Iron Man" suit to be used by American soldiers of the future. At a recent demonstration, an average man who could not bench press any more than 200 pounds stepped into the "exoskeleton of aluminum and electronics" and completed 500 repetitions of an entire gym-style weight set!

The suit functions by sensing every movement a person makes and instantaneously amplifying each jerk and twist. As the brain sends sensory signals to muscles and tendons, so too does the computer within the suit send sensory signals to hydraulic valves, amplifying the strength and movement of these "limbs". (Source: usatoday.com)

The United States Army hopes that the suits will eventually be used in combat, but short-term plans see the suit being used to load/unload heavy cargo and repair bulky machinery.

Analysts are certain that once production increases, costs will surely decrease, making them readily available for public consumption. Factory workers could use the suit to make manual labor tasks less stressful and more efficient. The suit could even be used to help disabled individuals complete routine tasks.

The only problem with the suit is its limited battery life. The current battery only has enough juice to last 30 minutes. The suit has the potential to function for a bit longer, but it would need to be hooked up to a tank, helicopter or large generator as a power source. (Source: yahoo.com)

Whatever modifications need to be tinkered out, it can't be denied that owning a suit that gives you superhuman strength is not just comic and cinematic fantasy any longer.