DARPA Robot Mule could follow its leader through rough terrain while carrying 400 pounds has been shelved due to noise concerns

The vision for the future soldier is to be combat effective and also highly mobile, adaptive, networked, sustainable with total battle space situation awareness and information assurance. Therefore, he is equipped with night- vision goggles, radios, smartphones, GPS, infrared sights, a laptop as well as batteries to power them. He is also burdened with ammunition, gear interface, body armor, boots, weapons and water. The weight carried by today’s Army infantry fighters or “marching load” is more than 120-pounds, and can reach as much as 132-pounds.