why do they need this. What are they carrying? Are marines supposed to go without resupplies for weeks/months where they would need an additional robot mule to carry everything?
Combat loads have been increasing for decades as we load our troops with new tech and body armor. A US Army report indicates an average of 87-127 lbs (40-58 kg) carry load [0]. Another here [1] indicates 90-110 lbs. US Army doctrine prescribes a max load of 60lb, but troops regularly are exceeding the guidance due to operational necessity. It's incredibly stressful on the body and is a major indicator in early joint and soft tissue degeneration in our soldiers and Marines.
The branches are all looking at ways to reduce the load. Pack "animals" are an excellent option to offload heavy equipment and improve the health and long-term mobility of our combat forces.
An old coworker left the Army due to back issues from carrying gear through Afghanistan. Unfortunately their gear is often much heavier and lower quality than what civilians use for backpacking/camping.
Yes, actually this was a frequent occurrence in Afghanistan. Soldiers or Marines would be posted in small numbers in a remote COP in the mountains. Resupplying these troops would require more soldiers then were actually in the COP, and the resupply missions were often more dangerous than the mission of the COP itself (because it is easier to ambush a convoy of trucks than attacked an outpost).
> Resupplying these troops would require more soldiers
> then were actually in the COP...
Yes. In general the ratio is, I think, 10 support soldiers to one combat soldier. The logistics required to keep an army in the field half way around the world is enormous.
"“What we’ve seen is that when Marines come ashore, they’re carrying 130 pounds of food, water, batteries, ammo, you name it, on their backs because fundamentally, they don’t trust sea-based logistics to keep them supplied,”
Which is ironic, because since World War 2 the Marines basically function as a de facto Army, and enjoy all the benefits of American global air and sea superiority.
Really, as a former soldier myself, the ideal solution is to stop having soldiers and Marines carrying so much damn gear. Much, much easier said than done.
Telling your robot to carry this shit over there is great way to resupply. Compared to having soldiers (or contractors) get blown up driving trucks around.
The branches are all looking at ways to reduce the load. Pack "animals" are an excellent option to offload heavy equipment and improve the health and long-term mobility of our combat forces.
0: http://archive.armytimes.com/article/20110214/NEWS/102140308... 1: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/call/c...