Multifunctional Utility / Logistics and Equipment

Transport MULE

The Multifunctional Utility / Logistics and Equipment, or MULE, was an unmanned robotic vehicle under development intended for the US Army to transport loads . The word “Mule” also means a packhorse in English .

Mule is a 2.5 ton all-wheel drive (6 × 6) unmanned vehicle that is intended to support the troops in so-called dirty, dull, dangerous (dirty, boring, dangerous) missions. There should be different versions, all of which should be built by Lockheed Martin . They should be equipped with an autonomous navigation system and be able to follow a command vehicle or soldiers or drive to a certain point in the field. System development began in 2003 and delivery was planned for 2010.

In July 2011, the US Army canceled the project.

System description

A MULE pulls a 5 ton truck

The MULE is primarily built to support the infantry . The vehicle is also manoeuvrable in difficult terrain. There should be three versions. All should be equipped with six wheel hub motors , which should keep the vehicle mobile in the event of failure of individual motors and in difficult terrain. The robot was supposed to use its “legs” to overcome steps up to 1.5 meters high, obstacles 50 cm high, ditches 1.5 meters wide, water 1.25 meters deep and gradients of up to 40 percent. The robot should be able to travel up to a hundred kilometers on the road and up to 50 kilometers on impassable terrain. All versions should also be able to be transported as an external load on a transport helicopter of the type UH-60 Blackhawk or CH-53 .

Versions

Transport version XM1217

A transport MULE with lowered chassis

The transport MULE was intended as a “packhorse” for two infantry squads each. It should be possible to fasten 1.2 tons of payload with rails and straps. The vehicle should also be used for evacuation and medical transport. With the termination of the Future Combat Systems program by Defense Secretary Robert Gates , the project was discontinued in January 2010.

Mine clearance version (Countermine-MULE) XM1218

The demining MULE was supposed to detect and mark mines . With the termination of the Future Combat Systems program by Defense Secretary Robert Gates, the project was discontinued in January 2010.

Armed Robotic Vehicle Assault Light (ARV-AL) XM1219

Armed Robotic Vehicle Assault Light

The attack MULE was supposed to support the dismounted infantry with anti-tank guided weapons and a machine gun . Due to its air transport capability, it should also be able to support airborne troops. This MULE version was most recently the only one to be developed for the Brigade Combat Team Modernization program to be ready for use. Further development of this version was also stopped until September 30, 2011.

technology

For all versions:

• Uniform chassis
• 2.5 tons platform weight
  • C-130 and CH-47 internally air-transportable
  • UH-60 as an external load
• Diesel-electric drive
  • Single wheel drive without gearbox
  • Each wheel can be controlled individually
  • Run flat tires

Web links

• Transport mule in the US Army. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on May 31, 2009 . 
• Mine clearance mule in the US Army. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on May 31, 2009 . 
• Assault-Mule in the US Army (English)
• Lockheed Martin website
• PDF from Lockheed Martin (English; 1.11 MB)
• Wired News: Army Tests Fighting Bot (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Army kills off MULE unmanned vehicle. (No longer available online.) ArmyTimes, Aug. 15, 2011, archived from the original on Dec. 13, 2014 ; Retrieved December 12, 2014 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
2. ↑ armytimes.com Army kills off MULE unmanned vehicle , accessed 5 February 2012