The Canadian Army is taking a leap into the future.
Over the next two weeks, soldiers in Ottawa will be strapping on and testing bionic knee braces built in Halifax that will make them more effective on the battlefield.
While on the ground Canadian troops often carry very heavy equipment and these special braces, built by Spring Loaded Technology are powerful enough to help a soldier lift more than 100 lbs of body weight when worn on both knees.
"In the Canadian Army, we have a similar challenge as most other modern armies in the world, in that with the advancement of technology, we're asking individual soldiers who are on foot to carry a lot more weight then their grandfathers have in World War II or World War I," said Maj. Eddie Jun, who is helping put the braces through rigorous testing.
While work is being done to develop lighter equipment, there's only so much that can be done on that front.
"I know scientists are working really hard, but we're looking at the next 25 to 30 years before a huge impact is made," said Jun. "We're going to tackle the problem from the other direction in that, okay, well we can't reduce the weight of soldier burden significantly in the short term. Is there a way where we could assist the soldiers by giving them an external support mechanism that they can use?"
Enter the military-grade UpShot, weighing under two pounds per brace.
"It's designed to restore energy and actually make the individual stronger and more resistant to fatigue," said Chris Cowper-Smith, the CEO of Spring Loaded Technology.
The brace uses a liquid spring technology that absorbs shock and reduces impact on soldiers' knees.
Jun tested out a brace on one knee, while hoisting his three-year-old son Danny on his shoulders.
"I spent 16 years in the infantry and my knees are not the best shape," he said. "My wife jokes that I have the knees of a 60-year-old. On my unsupported knee I feel some strain, but on the supported knee it's almost like just going for a walk."
A number of soldiers have signed up to test out the brace, including Col. Julien Richard, who has had two major surgeries on his right knee.
"I'm doing very well right now, but want to invest in the future," he said. "Maybe I'll have other issues to that knee as I age, so I just want to try this and see if this would procure additional support to help me out in the long run."
He said the braces, which cost about $10,000, could be a great investment for the Canadian Armed Forces.
"I mean, we save across the board, so if our soldiers, if we can help them to better support the knee and ankle and whatnot, then they can provide more," said Richard. "Less physio, less medical appointments, less medication and then extend the life of the soldier on the battlefield and then less time in administration recovery, so more people on the armoury floor as we say, is better for the organization."
And then maybe, a better quality of life upon retirement ...