Powered exoskeleton

A powered exoskeleton is a mobile machine consisting primarily of a skeleton-like framework worn by a person and a power supply that supplies at least part of the activation energy for limb movement.

Description
Powered exoskeletons are designed to physically assist and, in many cases, protect the wearer. They may be designed to assist and protect soldiers and construction workers, or to allow people to survive in other dangerous environments. A wide medical market exists for powered exoskeletons to provide mobility assistance for aged and infirm people. Other possibilities include rescue work, such as in collapsed buildings, in which the device might allow a rescue worker to lift heavy debris, while simultaneously protecting him from falling rubble.

The MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor designed by Dr. Catherine Halsey is the most sophisticated UNSC powered armor project so far. As one of its main strengths, the MJOLNIR system eschews traditional mechanized joints in favor of a strength-enhancing layer of electroactive liquid crystal and provides a cybernetic link which boosts the wearer's reactions by a factor of five. While it is the most successful UNSC powered armor project, MJOLNIR is by no means the only effort to physically augment soldiers in combat. The HRUNTING Mark III (B) Exoskeleton and the HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark I were exoskeleton systems derived from the earlier prototypes from the exoskeleton program which predated MJOLNIR. Large-scale powered exoskeletons became more common in the years following the Human-Covenant War, with at least one model, the Mantis, seeing battlefield use.

The Semi-Powered Infiltration armor predominantly used by the Spartan-III supersoldiers provides modest physical enhancement as well as a rudimentary active camouflage by means of photoreactive panels, allowing covert operations in enemy territory. RKD, an Earth think-tank, created Project HAYABUSA concurrently with MJOLNIR and while the two were developed separately, they share many characteristics, and are interchangeable to a degree.

In 2558, Michael Crespo wore an older suit of ODST armor from the early Human-Covenant war, which apparently had an exoskeleton installed in it. It was noted to be significantly less capable than MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor.

The Forerunners' personal armor offered powered support to some extent. For combat use, they also developed armor suits known as combat skins, using a class system based on numbers, on which the MJOLNIR Mark V and Mark VI would be rated Class 2.

Known powered exoskeletons
There are form fitting exoskeleton suits that act as armor, and there are larger exoskeletons that act as vehicles.

Forerunner

 * Personal armor - Body-assist armor worn by virtually all Forerunners in everyday life
 * Combat skin - Armor worn by Forerunners in battle

Human

 * Hayabusa Powered Assault Armor - A UNSC powered armor system similar to the MJOLNIR armor
 * MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor - The performance-enhancing body armor first used by the SPARTAN-IIs and later by all Spartans
 * Mark I, Mark II, and Mark III powered exoskeletons - The powered exoskeletons that predated MJOLNIR; later retooled by the HRUNTING and YGGDRASIL programs
 * Mark IV - First proper iteration of MJOLNIR; issued in at least three distinct generations
 * Mark V - Introduced energy shields and artificial intelligence housing; fielded in two versions
 * Mark VI - Introduced automated biofoam injectors
 * Mark VII - Last of GEN1. Only known use is by Naomi-010
 * GEN2 - A broad array of suits developed after the Human-Covenant War
 * GEN3
 * Semi-Powered Infiltration armor - The armor used by most SPARTAN-IIIs
 * Nightfall armor - A suit of powered armor used by ONI operatives on missions in hazardous environments

Ancient human

 * Ancient human battle armor suit -This powered armor used by Ancient humans during Human-Forerunner wars.

Sangheili

 * Sangheili harness - The powered armor worn by Sangheili in combat.
 * Assault harness - The Assault harness is an ancient type of armor that is fully sealed. Formerly restricted by the Covenant, dissident Sangheili decided to reuse it during the Covenant civil war.
 * Combat harness - The combat harness is the ubiquitous armor system available to Sangheili of all ranks. The armor exists in a wide range of colors, and there are slight functional and aesthetic variations.
 * Commando harness - The Commando harness is a lighter and sturdier variant. It is equipped with hardened communications gear and uplink capabilities, for use by Commando Units.
 * Flight harness - The Flight harness is a sealed armor destined for pilots of space fighters, such as the Tarasque heavy fighter and the Gigas fighter-bomber.
 * Infiltration harnessThe Infiltration harness is an armor equipped with active camouflage technology. As such, it is commonly used by Special Operations and Stealth Sangheili.
 * Outrider harness - The Outrider harness is an upgraded armor destined to improve survivability and effectiveness for its user, especially during risky missions on frontier worlds.
 * Ranger harness - The Ranger harness is a sealed armor used for extra-vehicular activity. There are many variations, including some derived from the Assault or Storm platforms.
 * Storm harness - The Storm harness is a variant produced by Lodam Armory originally for specialized shock troopers who operated on frontier worlds. The Storm variant gained prominence during the Sangheili civil war.
 * Ultra-class armor - The armor is mostly worn by Sangheili Ultras, though it is not restricted to them. It is typically of a glistening white. Some feature secondary red markings and a crested helmet.
 * Warrior-class harness - This type of harness is reinforced with a shield-bolstering pauldron system. It also has an accentuated helmet design. The armor is typically golden, signifying a command position.
 * Commander-class harness - The Commander-class harness is fielded by Sangheili who were experienced officers of the Covenant. It has an ornate helmet very similar to that of the Officer variant.
 * General harness - The harness used by Generals is golden, signifying their role as field masters. It features a command helmet.
 * Officer harness - Contrary to standard Majors who use the combat harness, the Officer subclass is equipped with a more ornate harness and helmet. It exists in dark golden red and matte burgundy.
 * Invader harness - The Invader harness was a ceremonial armor used by Sangheili hunting lodges. Since the dissolution of the Covenant, it has been modernized for combat against the Jiralhanae.
 * Kaidon harness - The noble Kaidons have donned a variety of ceremonial battledresses with different styles and colors throughout Sangheili history.
 * High Councilor harness - The High Councilors were equipped with a large, ornamental helmet. A similar but highly stylized version of this armor was also in use for Imperial Admirals.
 * Arbiter body armor - The Arbiter armors were an extremely rare type of harness only donned by ancient Sangheili judge-kings, and by specific Sangheili appointed by the Hierarchs during the Covenant era.
 * Executioner's harness - Worn by an executioner, this harness appears to have an ornate helmet.
 * Imperial Admiral harness
 * Artifact retrieval harness - This harness was used to recover Forerunner artifacts. It has a breathing apparatus that enables breathing in hazardous environments. Sesa 'Refumee's detachment used this set.
 * Honor Guard harness - The harness was a highly ornamented, ceremonial equipment issued to Sangheili Honor Guardsmen. The elite Lights of Sanghelios wore a bright-white base armor variant, instead of crimson red.
 * Hesduros-styled Zealot-class harness - The harness's design is used by Zealots and Kaidons who originate from Hesduros. This traditional armor has a very organic, irregular surface.
 * Ceremonial battle harness - The ceremonial battle harness refers to an ornamental armor used by some chapters of Sangheili Zealots. A variation is also used by the Field Marshal subclass.
 * Ascetic harness - The Ascetic harness is an ancient design utilized by a religious order that was reactivated during the Great Schism. It features a traditional bladed mandible guard.

San'Shyuum

 * Prelate power armor - Highly advanced powered armor worn by Prelate in battle.

Forerunner

 * War Sphinx
 * Seeker

Human

 * Cargo walker
 * HRUNTING and YGGDRASIL
 * HRUNTING Mark III (B) Exoskeleton - Also known as the Cyclops; a large exoskeleton mainly designed for non-combat tasks, such as construction and dock work
 * HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark I Armor Defense System - An advanced development of the pre-MJOLNIR exoskeleton system
 * HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II [D] Armor Defense System - Also known as the Mega-Mantis, a very large armored fighting vehicle akin to the later Mark IX "Mantis"
 * HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II [J] Armor Defense System - Also known as the Colossus, a successor to an older exoskeleton in the same line, the HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark II [D]
 * HRUNTING/YGGDRASIL Mark IX Armor Defense System - A powered exoskeleton/armored fighting vehicle used by the UNSC Marine Corps after the Human-Covenant War
 * Munitions loader
 * Skyfire Exosuit

Unggoy

 * Goblin - A bipedal battlesuit of Unggoy design

Jiralhanae

 * Decimus' exoskeleton - a custom combat suit worn by Atriox's right hand
 * Breacher Exosuit