{"id":47223,"date":"2018-06-04T15:16:12","date_gmt":"2018-06-04T15:16:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/06\/04\/army-research-lab-shows-off-third-arm-for-ground-troops-in-new-video\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T03:35:21","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T03:35:21","slug":"army-research-lab-shows-off-third-arm-for-ground-troops-in-new-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/06\/04\/army-research-lab-shows-off-third-arm-for-ground-troops-in-new-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Army Research Lab shows off \u2018third arm\u2019 for ground troops in new video"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Engineers at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory<\/a> at Aberdeen Proving Ground<\/a>, Maryland, are toying with ways to lighten troops\u2019 loads in 21st century combat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t worry \u2014 it\u2019s still an \u201dearly stage prototype device,\u201d researchers said in a new video released last week to promote the project. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThird Arm<\/a> is a wearable, passive, stabilizing device for the dismounted soldier,\u201d Dan Baechle, a mechanical engineer at Army Research Laboratory, said in the video. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight is a sensitive subject for ground troops, many of whom likely see the Third Arm device and assume \u2014 rightly so, at this point \u2014 that it\u2019s just more cumbersome gear added to their kit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Baechle said part of their intention is to learn more about the cost-reward dynamic of added weight and increased utility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat we want to look at here is [whether] there is a trade-off between potentially added weight and improved lethality, improved survivability,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt can help stabilize the weapon and take the load off of their arms,\u201d Baechle added. \u201cIt\u2019s made from composite materials to make it as light as possible, but also to ensure the range of motion that Soldiers need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Third Arm weighs less than four pounds, and has been tested with the M249 and M240B machine guns<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Baechle said that the device took the full 27 pounds of weight from the M240B off a soldier\u2019s arms when tested.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2017, the Army Research Laboratory conducted a pilot study of active-duty troops using Third Arm in live-fire tests. While the results showed the device did improve marksmanship, reduced arm fatigue and muscle activation for some troops, there were notable complaints.<\/p>\n\n\n\t