DRDO Humanoid Robot: India is working on building its own robotic army. The Defence Research and Development Organisation, known as DRDO, has been making a humanoid robot that can help soldiers during dangerous missions. This robot is being made to follow direct human instructions and help reduce risk to soldiers in high-risk areas. It will be able to go into places like forests and other difficult terrains where humans face more danger. The goal is to keep soldiers safer by letting the robot do some of the risky work.
This robot is being developed by the Research and Development Establishment (Engineers), which is one of DRDO’s main labs. A team of scientists has been working on this project for four years.
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The robot has two main parts the upper body and the lower body and separate prototypes have already been made for both. Internal tests have shown that some of its movements and functions work well. It was even shown at the National Workshop on Advanced Legged Robotics in Pune. Right now, the team is trying to improve how the robot understands and follows commands from a human operator.
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The humanoid robot is designed to walk on two legs, and it is being made to move through hard places like jungles and rough ground. According to scientist S E Talole, who is group director at the Centre for Systems and Technologies for Advanced Robotics, “We’ve developed separate prototypes for the upper and lower body and have successfully achieved certain functions during internal trials” reports ET
The team is also trying to make the robot smarter so it can follow complex commands more easily and move more smoothly. Another DRDO scientist, Kiran Akella, said that they want to finish the project by 2027.
This system includes three main components
- Actuators:These generate motion similar to human muscles.
- Sensors:These collect real-time data from the surrounding environment.
- Control System:These analyze the collected information to guide the robot’s actions.
The robot will have features that let it move and work like a human. It will have arms with a special joint system and 24 degrees of freedom 7 in each arm, 4 in the gripper, and 2 in the head. This will help it do tasks like picking up things, opening doors, turning valves, pushing or pulling objects, and getting past obstacles. It will also be able to handle dangerous items like explosives, mines, or hazardous liquids using both arms together safely.
Advanced Technical Features
This robot will operate seamlessly every time and indoors or outdoors.
It will be equipped with proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensors that will provide the robot with information about its body and the surrounding environment.
- Data Fusion Capability:The ability to integrate data from various sources.
- Strategic Sensing:This will help the robot make decisions in complex situations.
- Audio-visual Perception:This will provide the robot with the ability to see and hear.
- Fall and Push Recovery:The ability to handle itself when it falls or is pushed.
- Real-time Map Generation:The capability to create a map of the surrounding area.
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The robot will work in day or night, and both inside buildings and outside in open places. It will use special sensors that help it understand where it is and what is around it. The robot will also have cameras and microphones to help it “see” and “hear” what’s happening, and use all that information to take action.
The system works through actuators, which make movements like muscles, and sensors that collect real-time data from around the robot. A control system helps guide what the robot does next by using that information.
One of the hardest parts, Talole said, is getting the robot to move smoothly and do the right things quickly. “One of the biggest challenges is ensuring the robot can carry out desired tasks smoothly, which requires mastering balance, rapid data processing, and ground-level execution,” he explained.
DRDO thinks two- and four-legged robots can help not just in the army but also in space, healthcare, factories, and homes. But making robots that walk, follow commands, and work on their own is still tough. According to India, the robot will use SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) to know where it is and move around safely.
