India develops its first four-legged robot

Moving towards self-reliance under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, especially in the field of defence, India has now developed its first indigenous quadruped or four-legged robot. Besides this an exoskeleton too has been created.

Both these have been developed by Hyderabad-based Svaya Robotics in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Labs, Research and Development Establishment in Pune and the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory in Bengaluru. The two products can be used for defence as well as other sectors,

Sharing details about the robots which are currently imported from Switzerland and US, Vijay R Seelam, Founder-Managing Director of Svaya Robotics, said, these can run or walk on rough and uneven surfaces. Citing an example, he said in Leh armed forces personnel have to move around in unfavourable conditions and in places like this, these robots can be very useful.

Besides, he said these robots can recognise terrorist activities and pinpointing unsafe places as the visuals captured by these machines can be accessed and looked at from anywhere in the country. They can also prove to be useful in nuclear plants also.

What makes these robots very convenient for the soldiers is that they can carry 25 kilograms in payload while accompanying them.

About the wearable exoskeleton, Seelam disclosed that as the soldiers have to carry up to 25 kg and walk long stretches, this severely impacts their health in the long run. The exoskeletons enable them to carry heavy loads without feeling much burden while reducing their fatigue.

Apart from the Army, the robots and exoskeletons can be used by paramilitary forces including Border Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force and others.

Dr Sateesh Reddy, Scientific Advisor to the Ministry of Defence and former chairman of DRDO who had visited the Svaya Robotics facility in Hyderabad said robotics will play a vital role in helping India’s defence and soldiers through its remote reconnaissance capabilities.