Casualty evacuations by drone, robotic mules tested by Army battle lab

Windshield wiper fluid to recharge batteries, drone casualty evacuation and an electric “tactical cart” are a few new and ongoing efforts receiving attention at the Army’s Maneuver Battle Lab.

The laboratory, based at Fort Benning, Georgia, runs combined arms and cross-domain maneuver experiments among its three branches. The organization’s soldiers, mostly from combat arms, evaluate innovative technology before the Army decides what to field.

Deputy Director Chris Willis and two of his staff members, Mark Winstead with Expeditionary Warrior Experiment and unmanned systems lead Keith Singleton, spoke with Army Times about the lab’s work.

During the Expeditionary Warrior Experiment in March, battle lab experts looked at systems that could deliver eight mortar rounds on target in 90 seconds; a soldier-worn power generator that can run off windshield wiper fluid; and a flying drone able to carry a 70-pound mannequin across about 2.5 miles in less than four minutes, among dozens…