Portable Jetpack Enables Soldiers To Run Faster And Means Anyone Could Run A Four Minute Mile

The concept of a supersoldier is something the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are really, really keen to transfer from the pages of a comic book to real life.

They've already helped develop and fund various exoskeletons like this and this—and now they've got behind a student project for a wearable jetpack that improves speed and agility.

The project's called 4MM, or 4 Minute Mile, and is being developed by students at Arizona State University as part of the iProjects program. Robotic engineer Jason Kerestes is the project's mastermind and has built a working prototype which you can see in the video.

The jetpack rests on the wearer's lower back and uses two thrusters exerting force back and down to offer both lift and drive—turning the wearer into a cybernetically-enhanced supersoldier of tomorrow, just like Master Chief.

Kind of. A little bit anyway.