A robotic mule is a robot that can carry heavy items. Boston Dynamics currently produces it. The original mule came with a petrol engine. This creates a lot more noise than the original and has been compared as a swarming bees. Boston Dynamics developed the Spot, a quieter version, powered by electric and hydraulics. This robot can lift around 40 pounds (18kg). It is however not repairable.
LS3
The LS3 robot mule has been undergoing platform refinement. Combat simulations have also been conducted at military bases in California. It still needs to be tuned for efficiency. It has been called "Cujo", by the company. It was used at the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab for training and demonstrations.
The LS3 robotic mule is equipped with a range of sensors and laser radar. It is a powerful follow the leader device, capable of following a dismounted Marine. Marines can also issue commands to this robot.
BigDog
The BigDog robotic mule is a four-legged machine currently being developed by Boston Dynamics for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It can lift hundreds of pounds, and it can even walk on snowy terrain. The robot can even scale a mountain without falling.
BigDog's robotic mule, the BigDog, has been in development since several years. The BigDog was developed in MIT's lab with funding from DARPA. The legs of the BigDog are articulated and the system contains an array of sensors. The robot does not require watering or feeding. The robot runs on a gasoline engine, and it sounds like a huge chainsaw. It could eventually be fitted with a solar panel.
Pedongi
Pedongi (the robotic mule) was an Indian army animal. The name of the animal was inspired by a small West Bengal city. The Indian Army had a unit that transported animals and the mule was one of them. The mules were used to transport ammunition, supplies, and casualties to military hospital.
Pedongi remained in the army for more three decades. After his retirement in 1998, Pedongi was awarded the Vir Chakra prize for the longest period of service of any mule within the Indian army. While the story behind Pedongi may have changed over the years the main story has remained the same. The 1971 conflict in Jammu-Kashmir saw the mule as part of the Army's Animal Transport Convoy. The mules had been attacked by Pakistani soldiers, but the infantry unit launched a counterattack.