The Office of Naval Research just threw a $US1.6m grant at some UCSD researchers, to be used to build a "field hospital on a chip". The system will monitor a few biomarkers for deviations from safe levels, at which point it will automatically medicate its wearer. While the military hopes that such a device could provide first aid to wounded soldiers, the technology could also find plenty of practical uses in medicine, especially for doling out insulin to diabetics or anesthetic to chronic pain sufferers.

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You know that sweaty guy who always comes into work smelling like an armpit? Yeah, you know who I'm talking about--and if you don't, "that guy" is probably you. Thanks to AOKI, you won't have to tolerate the funny looks, wrinkled noses and giggle-laden whispers of your co-workers any longer. The translation is shaky, but their new line of deodorising suits claim to absorb sweat, suck out odour and provide antibacterial protection using the power of silver ions. They also run about US$370 on sale. Unfortunately, if you don't live in Japan you will just have to continue being the smelly office outcast. [Rakuten via Crunchgear]

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While the nightmarish beer-belly-ready Iron Man suit was WRONG and disturbing, this homemade version of the original suit is a perfect reproduction of the original. And still disturbing. As you can see in the gallery, it's perfectly made, with the same finish and every single detail of the real Iron Man suit, down to the last notch and junction.

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We have covered quite a bit of DIY Iron Man components--including arc reactors, masks and repulsors--but never an entire DIY suit (unless you count Tony Stark minifigs). Thankfully, we only had to wait to this year's Comic-Con for it. I was going to headline this "Iron Man: the Retirement Years," but I'm sure you will come with better options in the comments. Updated: if you thought this was horrible, nothing--and I say nothing--will ever prepare you for the worst nightmare Comic-Con 08 had to offer (Warning: Not Safe for Lunch.)

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Cyberdine's HAL Exoskeleton is more sophisticated than Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC), but HAL is only available to rent whereas HULC is available for purchase. Unlike HAL, the HULC is focused entirely on helping the user carry heavy loads—up to 90 kilos without breaking a sweat. It also helps to reduce oxygen consumption by up to 5-10% when walking.

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The Sarcos-Raytheon joint effort Exoskeleton has been around for a while, but the companies are trotting it out in honour of the Iron Man movie. This XOS seems really agile and powerful at the same time, but those hooks-for-hands really might be dangerous if you forget you have them on. But as you can see when their own roboman lifts those 90 kilos with barely any effort, it's really really useful. If they can kinda enclose up this suit so the whole thing is bulletproof, flameproof and Iron Monger-proof, we'd be first in line. [Raytheon]

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Here's a trailer I haven't seen before of Tony Stark getting ready for a night on the town. No Tux, but the Mark III suit. What's impressive about the movie's suit design is that they've not only detailed the red and gold of the outer shell, but the entire underlayer of the chassis and fastening system. That chest repulsor still looks like a simple halogen bulb, though.

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Are you a feeble, pasty pansy? For the low price of US$1000 a month, you could overcome your physical limitations with a HAL exoskeleton from Cyberdyne. While HAL prototypes have been around for a few years now, Cyberdyne has just begun building a lab that will mass produce 400-500 of the suits per year starting this October.

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Dutch researchers have come up with a heated sleep suit that could help insomniacs and older people who suffer from disturbed sleeping patterns. A system of micropipes filled with water warms the patient, increasing their body temperature by just 0.4 degrees Celsius. At 35.4ºC, the body shifts from nocturnal wakefulness to a deeper sleep because, scientists believe, that skin temperature affects cells in the hypothalamus of the brain responsible for controlling sleep. As long as it doesn't spring a leak, eh? [Wired]

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