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11 Movie Gadgets You Might See in Real Life

by Dan Reilly on May 21, 2008 at 01:12 PM



Powered Rope Ascender

After watching Batman scale large buildings with no real superpower, we all wanted to know if we could really get those wonderful toys. The closest answer comes from ATLAS Devices, manufacturers of the Powered Rope Ascender.

Created during a military sponsored contest at MIT, the gadget can haul a fully-laden soldier or fireman up a rope at up to 10 feet per second. Combined with other methods of hauling, the Ascender can lift up to 1000 pounds. While not yet commercially available, ATLAS hopes the ascender is used outside of military and law enforcement in areas such as tree trimming and construction.

Alas, the device doesn't come with a sweet boomerang or gun. Yet.



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