Five Technology Seen in Aliens We Can Replicate Today

Monday - October 16 2023, 17:18 UTC - 1 year ago

This article explores tech from the famous sci-fi film 'Aliens' and analyses whether it's possible to replicate it today. We examine two examples - the combat vehicle M577 APC and UD-4 Cheyenne dropship. Current technology is able to realistically replicate the M577 APC, but for the UD-4 we are currently falling short in terms of necessary propulsion and lack ramrockets. The article also discusses other tech possibile seen in the film to replicate today.

We won't bore you with an excessively long introduction and just get stuck in. Here are 5 more examples of technology seen in the 1986 science fiction classic "Aliens" that might be possible to replicate today.

1. We could probably build something similar to the M577 "Armored Personnel Carrier"One of the most notable vehicles in the film is the iconic M577 "Armored Personnel Carrier" (APC). According to the franchise lore, this is a lightweight tactical response vehicle that serves as a troop transport and can be deployed into combat via a drop ship (more on that later). The vehicle has a four-wheel drive that is powered using electric hybrid propulsion. Each wheel is directed powered by an internal direct-drive Roto-Dynamic Industries transaxle motor. The vehicle is equipped with batteries located at the rear for power. Still, a 286 kW "Arco Continental" R-370 multi-fuel gas turbine can generate electricity if the batteries run low. There is little detail about the armor thickness of the APC, but it is armed with a front dual-rotary cannon and a retractable roof turret armed with dual-plasma cannons. Impressive on paper, but could we build something similar today? Well, the concept of an APC is a time-tested one in many armed forces today. However, they are mostly hefty things powered by diesel engines and with caterpillar tracks. They also lack energy weapons, like the APC in "Aliens." The APC in the film was created from a modified Hunslet ATT77 "Air Tug" Aircraft Towing Tractor. Bought by the production team, the vehicle was then heavily modified to become the APC we all know and love today. The air tug was an all-electric, four-wheel drive vehicle, and so, with a little modification, it was turned into the fictional APC for the film. As for the armament, the rotary guns could be simulated using a pair of M61 "Vulcan" rotary cannons, as seen on many modern jet fighters. The only real hangup would be the plasma cannons. At present, we have nothing even close to this kind of technology. We could, however, swap them out for conventional 20mm cannons or throw caution to the wind and install a pair of high-energy laser weapons like Northrop Grumman's "Phantom." .

2. We have some of the bits of UD-4 "Cheyenne" dropshipAnother iconic vehicle from the film is the UD-4 "Cheyenne" dropshop. A vertical-takeoff-and-landing (VTOL) atmospheric and space-capable aircraft, it can quickly deliver Marines and equipment to the planet's surface by dropping from the belly of a spacecraft in orbit. Its usual cargo is the M577 APC (we've already discussed), but it can also transport other equipment directly in the field. Powered by two sets of engines, the aircraft's primary propulsion is provided by Republic Dynamics TF-900 variable-cycle turbines. These engines act as turbofans during subsonic speeds and can be directed vertically or horizontally for regular flight or VTOL capabilities. For high-altitude and space flight, the aircraft also comes equipped with "ramrockets" to reach speeds over 125,000 km/h. But could we make something like the UD-4 today? .

The answer is, yes, but it's not likely to happen anytime soon. Today, we have the technology to make a VTOL aircraft, or even a space-capable one. However, the real difficulty lies in the propulsion. While the TF-900 turbines are theoretically possible, they are oddly absent from the aviation world, despite being present (albeit in a different form) in the US Army's advanced Black Hawk helicopter. As for the ramrockets, we don't have anything that could even come close to them yet.

The original UD-4 Cheyenne dropship was made from a combination of a SkyCrane helicopter and a BAC Jet Provost-3 airplane. A few prototype VTOL craft of a similar size have existed since the film was released - the Boeing-Sikorsky RAH-66 Comanche was one such example - but a viable commercial or military version was never released. As for the ramrockets, we obviously have nothing akin to them today.So these are just two examples of technology seen in the film that might be possible to replicate today, but there are many more. The franchise is full of incredible tech and ideas that could find real-world application - if we could find a way to make them a reality.