The Indian Military is ready to retire 4,000 mules which have served in distant and mountainous areas and substitute them with AI-powered robotic canines. As displayed within the parade for 77th Military Day in Pune on the Southern Command Investiture Ceremony 2025, India is the second nation, after China, to characteristic this know-how.
This shift appears to mark the top of an period for the animals which have carried ammunition, meals, and medicines to areas inaccessible by autos or helicopters for 75 years.
Brigadier Hardeep Singh Sohi, deputy director common within the Authorities of India, shared a video of the show introducing these robotic MULE (Multi-Utility Legged Gear) canines.
New Youngsters on the Block.
Jai Hindpic.twitter.com/PyNlzNmpDp
— Brigadier Hardeep Singh Sohi,Shaurya Chakra (R) (@Hardisohi) January 9, 2025
The ceremony additionally displayed the “Indian Military’s technological excellence, that includes superior weaponry, fight autos, and state-of-the-art techniques,” in keeping with the Southern Command of the Indian Military X.
What are these Robotic MULE?
These four-legged robotic techniques are engineered for crucial duties equivalent to surveillance and provide transport. Geared up with thermal cameras and 360-degree sensors, they’ll carry payloads of as much as 12–15 kilograms and function in excessive temperatures starting from -40 to +55 levels Celsius.
Their adaptability to steep and uneven terrain, mixed with an operational vary of 10 kilometres through Wi-Fi and LTE, makes them extremely versatile for army functions.
They’re additionally designed to conduct reconnaissance in high-risk and mountainous areas, carry small arms to have interaction threats, and transport provides to frontline troops, lowering dangers to human personnel throughout fight.
The Indian Military has positioned an preliminary order for 100 robotic MULE items to AeroArc (a Delhi-based robotics firm), with pre-dispatch inspections of 25 items already accomplished.
These robots have a standby runtime of 20 hours, with CPU and GPU powered by the NVIDIA Xavier collection. This transfer marks a big development within the integration of AI and robotics into army operations, setting a brand new commonplace for defence know-how.
The robotic canines, which might navigate rugged terrain like their animal predecessors, might be supplemented by drones able to flying provides. Whereas the robots can carry solely 15 kg in comparison with a mule’s 80 kg, they get rid of the necessity for coaching in opposition to gunfire or carrying their meals provides, making operations extra environment friendly.
Animal Mules to be Gone
Regardless of this modernisation, a military officer acknowledged that robots and drones might by no means substitute the bond troopers share with their mules.
“They stored us well-fed and well-stocked. We now have reminiscences of strolling behind them for days and spending nights collectively in distant areas,” he instructed The Instances.
Mules have been integral to Indian army operations, notably in high-altitude areas. One mule, generally known as Pedongi, turned a logo of resilience. Serving at altitudes as much as 17,000 ft through the 1971 struggle with Pakistan, Pedongi was honoured with a ceremonial velvet rug and retired in 1997 after 25 years of service.
Whereas the transition to robotic canines represents a big technological development, troopers acknowledge that the love and companionship provided by the mules can’t be changed. As these animals are phased out, the military is contemplating gestures of appreciation for his or her many years of service.
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