Indian Army: Indian Army will deliver goods to forward posts through robotic mules and drones, prototype is ready

New Delhi: The Indian Army is working to reduce dependence on animal transport to deliver goods to soldiers at forward posts in border areas. Along with robotic mules, the army has moved towards acquiring logistics drones. Work is also going on continuously on infrastructure in border areas. The Indian Army is gradually replacing animal transport with trucks, all-terrain vehicles and rugged terrain vehicles for last-mile connectivity in mountainous areas. According to Indian Army sources, animal transport has played an important role in the kind of geographical conditions and terrain in border areas. As the infrastructure is built, the army animal transport will be reduced. Work is also being done towards acquiring cargo drones. Then goods can also be delivered to the soldiers through drones. Research and development work is being done for robotic mules and robotic mules are being made in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

Army needs 100 robotic mules

According to sources, the prototype of this robotic mule is ready and it has been tested in the summer season. Its trial is also to be done in snowy areas. Along with this, trials will also be done in every type of terrain. The army needs 100 such robotic mules. The army has also issued an RFP i.e. Request for Proposal for this in January last year. It was said that the army will get robotic mules only from indigenous companies. The army needs a four-legged robot that can go on different terrains.

It should have self recovery capability. It should be able to cross any obstacle on its own. The robotic mule should be such that it can operate from minus 20 to plus 45 degrees. Its battery should be enough to run continuously for at least 3 hours. Currently, the army uses mules to deliver supplies in high altitude areas, which are a major part of the army’s animal transport. The army hopes that by the year 2030, animal transport will decrease to 50-60 percent. Currently, there are many such army posts in border areas, where it becomes necessary to use animal transport to deliver goods.

… even then the need for animal transport will remain

Work is being done to reduce animal transport, but in the future too, the need for animal transport will remain to some extent. Tough terrain is a reason for this, but weather is also a big reason. Recently, when roads got washed away due to cloudburst in Sikkim and then helicopters also could not work in bad weather, in such a situation animal transport was the biggest support. With the development of new technology and infrastructure, its number will definitely decrease, but at such a time when nature shows its dreadful form, then the use of animal transport becomes important.