Boosting India's Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, Hyderabad-based Svaya Robotics has developed India’s first indigenous quadruped (four-legged) robot and exoskeleton for the defence sector.

The indigenous robots and wearable exoskeletons were developed in collaboration with the DRDO Labs, Research and Development Establishment (R&DE), Pune, and the Defence Bioengineering and Electromedical Laboratory (DEBEL), Bengaluru, as technology demonstrators with their design inputs.

Speaking to The New Indian Express, Vijay R Seelam, founder and MD of Svaya Robotics, said, “Quadruped robots are four-legged robots which can walk or run in uneven and rough terrains. For example, in Leh, where soldiers have to navigate through unfavourable conditions, these robots can be used instead. These are also useful in recognising terrorist activities and other unsafe locations and capturing the visuals which can be monitored from any part of the country.”

He said the robots can carry 25 kg in payload and walk along with the soldier, and added that these robots can be used in nuclear plants and other industries as well.

Touching upon the exoskeleton, he said, “Many times, soldiers are required to carry a payload of 25 kg and walk up to 20 km at a stretch. This will have an impact on their health in the long run. These active exoskeletons, when worn by soldiers, can carry such heavy loads without expending much effort. Even if they are carrying 25 kg, soldiers feel as if they are carrying six or seven kg, thus they are not fatigued easily. Both are dual-use robots and have multiple use cases in industry and healthcare as well.”

"With our 10 years of experience in the field, we have been able to automate these in Hyderabad within one year. In the next two years, these robots and exoskeletons will be out in the market,” Vijay said.

Lauding the enormous capabilities of the Indian Army, he added saying, “We can save the lives of many soldiers by deploying these robots in the frontline. These robots can be enabled even in the areas where the BSF, CRPF and other paramilitary and military forces operate. As the nature of war is changing, the scope for robotics in the defence sector is on a rise.”

Image courtesy: Deccan Chronicle