We just had a discussion about using tauntuans in the Empire Strikes Back. Well, the Marines have been using pack mules in the mountains of Afghanistan.
But the Marines are also testing a high-tech robotic mule, but I don't know if they will be as cost-effective as the biological kind.
The furry animals are perfect for hauling heavy loads through rugged terrain and have become crucial helpers as U.S. forces prepare to head to a war zone where the air is too thin for heavy choppers, roads are inaccessible and donkeys are plentiful, cheap and efficient.
But the Marines are also testing a high-tech robotic mule, but I don't know if they will be as cost-effective as the biological kind.