Robot exoskeletons

Fellow Croatian Andy Turudic sent me an interesting link about exoskeletons being developed to help soldiers carry heavy packs and other loads. I was a little put off by the company name of Cyberdyne. Is not that from some science fiction moves where robots take over the world? Anyway, military applications notwithstanding, the real benefit to these exoskeletons may be in helping handicapped people achieve independence and mobility. And the name of the robot, HAL (Hybrid Assistive Limb), well that is right out of 2001 Space Odyssey, even I can remember that.