IT has been the stuff of science fiction for generations - a wearable exoskeleton that gives human beings super powers.

And now the US Army is one step closer to realising that dream after it began testing its latest hi-tech war fighting gadget.

The human universal load carrier, or HULC, is a wearable exoskeleton that allows soldiers to carry up to 90kg for more than 20km on a single battery charge.

See HULC in action

The remarkable piece of kit is built by defence contractors Lockheed Martin and allows users to run at 11km/h for extended periods and even has a "burst mode" that takes the run into a 16km/h sprint for short periods.

On-board computers ensure the HULC moves in time with the soldier without the need for any external controls, and if the battery runs out the whole unit can be quickly packed into a carry case.

The wearer can carry out a full range of movements including deep squats, crawls and upper-body lifting with minimal straining to muscles and joints.

The suit even supports its own weight, so a soldier wearing the HULC does not feel any extra load.

Testing of the HULC is currently under way at the army's research centre in Massachusetts.

The army is trying to assess if the powered suit helps expend less energy given the same weight and distance over a non-HULC wearing soldier.

If the tests are successful, the next stage is to move it into a simulated field situation.

There is no estimate yet as to when the HULC may appear on the battlefield.

Engineers say the suit is not just applicable for the warzone but could also be used in civilian cargo loading applications, and possibly even helping the paralysed to walk again.