DARPA, the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, has unveiled a new mini-jetpack that was created in an effort to get all soldiers running four-minute miles. It may not be Iron Man cyborg technology allowing soldiers to fly anywhere they please, but it's a step in the right direction.

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Created at Arizona State University in a DARPA-funded lab, the jetpack is called 4MM (Four Minute Mile). It was developed to respond to the need for soldiers to move faster on the battefield even with heavy infantry gear.

Although a well-trained soldier running four-minute miles is not an impossible task, it becomes very difficult when carrying heavy gear and weapons.

By turning the jet-propelled device on its side pointing outwards instead of downward like flight jetpacks, it allows for a sizeable increase in running speed. It's much smaller than a jetpack built for flight, so soldiers would simply be able to wear it like a backpack.

While the 4MM is still in its early stages, runners already testing the device are saying they expend much less energy than normally, despite the device weighing in at 10 pounds.

If the jetpack were able to push a runner up to sprinting speeds with only a jogging effort, then essentially the runner would be able to sprint just as long as they could jog. A huge advantage considering a key to military dominance is mobility.

This isn't the first project from DARPA that benefits soldiers. They also recently created the "Warrior Web Exosuit" in an effort to allow soldiers to easily carry gear of up to 100 pounds.

The exo-suit is made of thick elastics and can be worn under fatigues, so it doesn't decrease or hinder mobility in any way. The weight of the soldier's body and equipment stretches the elastics, which helps to support and lift the weight allowing the solder to expend less energy.

The 4MM is another step by DARPA in an effort to create the ultimate super-soldier, and will be a nice addition to DARPA's already created Warrior Web Exosuit.  

TagsDARPA, Jetpack, Super-soldiers, four-minute miles, Iron Man, 4MM, technology, Warrior Web Exosuit