It is not exactly like those robots that we see in the trailer of Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, but it looks like it's getting there. Boston Dynamic's LS3 or the Legged Squad Support System, or more known as the AlphaDog, was let out of the kennel to join the U.S. Marines during the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014 Exercise which took place in Hawaii recently.

In this case, the AlphaDog, as its official designation says, is a robotic mule that can carry the load for a squad of Marines. It can go through various terrains, carrying up to 400lbs of gear, which saves a squad of Marines of the energy-zapping loads such as additional ammo, additional weapons, and even more gear that they usually carry in their backpacks which can be to at least 60lbs.

In the demo, the AlphaDog follows the squad leader who wears a sensor on the foot and thus, the squad doesn't need to manually control the AlphaDog as they go on patrol or mission. The AlphaDog can see using stereo vision via two cameras mounted on the head, and together with a LIDAR (Light Detecting and Ranging) will enable to follow and even do intelligence gathering by recording what it sees.

With enough fuel, (it’s powered by an engine), it can go on a 20-mile mission for a 24-hour duration with a top speed of 7mph. It can go to assigned locations with GPS and terrain sensing with set waypoints, especially when troops need some resupply whilst under fire. The AlphaDog can bring ammo and supplies, and may perhaps help bring wounded troops to safety.

There are more UGVs (Unmanned Ground Vehicles) in development, with the LSR AlphaDog showing more promise. Some of these UGVs developed are designed to do the tasks similar to what the AlphaDog does; or with mounted weapons to provide support, base defence, and even do offensive tasks. Read more about the testing of these UGVs that was held at Fort Benning in Georgia held in late 2013.