The device, which is the size of a hand-held power tool, can lift a 250-pound load more than 600 feet into the air at nearly 10 ft/sec, all on a single battery charge. Using a patented rope interaction design, the Rope Ascender can pull a fully-loaded soldier up a rappelling line, tow vehicles and even remotely move equipment and casualties. Giving soldiers the ability to scale a building or cliff in only seconds is obviously a capability designed perfectly for Special Opps and will also find application with the police, fire departments and other rescue operations.