The Indian government has continuously invested in cutting-edge technologies to promote robotics and enhance industrial productivity. In 2021, the sales of industrial robots in India surged by 54% and reached a new record, with 4,945 units installed. As a result, the World Robotics Report, released by the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), ranked India 10th in annual robot installations in 2022.
In addition to industries, robots are used extensively in many other sectors, such as medicine, education, agriculture, and hospitality. Let us look at some of the top robots that are changing the picture of robotics in India in 2024.
Top Robots in India in 2024
Here is a list of top 10 robots in India in 2024:
1. IRIS
IRIS is India’s first AI-powered humanoid teacher robot. Developed by Makerlabs, it was first deployed at a school in Kerala in March 2024. The robot is created using generative AI technologies and delivers educational content from preschool to high school through an Android app.
IRIS has a 4-wheel chassis and 5 degrees of freedom, allowing it to move freely and demonstrate various learning activities. It uses visual aids, games, and quizzes to make learning more interactive. It also has a voice assistant that can comprehensively answer questions asked by students.
2. KARMI-Bot
KARMI-Bot is a robot built by Asimov, a Kerala-based robotics company. It is used extensively in the healthcare sector to protect healthcare workers from viral infections. The robot can navigate in isolation wards independently to deliver food and medical kits to infected patients. This minimizes direct interaction between medical staff and patients.
KARMI-Bot has a transportation speed of 1m/sec and can be monitored remotely through video streaming. It was used in some government hospitals in India during the COVID-19 outbreak. Asimov also developed a variant of the KARMI-Bot called KARMI-CLEAN to facilitate the disinfection of large areas using UV light.
3. Manav
Manav is India’s first 3D-printed humanoid robot, developed by A-SET Training and Research Institute, Delhi. It is a two-foot-tall humanoid designed primarily for research purposes. The outer body of Manav is designed using the 3D printing technique and is made up of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
Manav has two degrees of freedom in the head and neck to facilitate sideways and up-and-down movement. It supports WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity and uses binocular vision processing to gain an in-depth perspective. It can also walk, talk, and dance in response to human voice commands.
4. Athena
Athena is a surveillance robot developed by an Indian company named Kody Technolabs. It is highly vigilant and can be used for round-the-clock security of spaces such as shops, malls, or industries. The robot has powerful vision because its ultra-high-definition cameras enable it to see even in low-light conditions.
Athena has cognitive security capabilities allow it to differentiate threats from harmless instances by analyzing its surroundings. It has facial recognition technology and can identify suspects or offenders. It also has an instant alert mechanism with a two-way intercom system that helps prevent crime before it can be committed.
5. DRDO Daksh
Daksh is a remote-controlled robot created by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO). It can safely track, handle, and destroy hazardous objects such as bombs. Daksh is fully automated and can navigate through staircases, steep slopes, and narrow corridors to reach the target object.
After reaching its target, it lifts the suspicious object and scans it using a portable X-ray device. If it is a bomb, Daksh defuses it with its water jet disrupter. It also has a shotgun that can break locked doors and scan explosives in vehicles. With such a high functionality, Daksh can be dubbed an anti-terror robot that can help our nation fight terrorism.
6. Mitra
Mitra is a humanoid robot created by Invento Robotics, a Bengaluru-based startup. It was launched in 2017 at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. The robot became famous as it greeted Indian PM Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump at this summit. Mitra is five feet tall and was created with high-performance capacity within a year.
Since its appearance, Mitra has found applications in various areas, such as banks, movie theatres, malls, airports, and hospitals. After its success, Invento Robotics also launched upgraded versions, Mitra 2 and Mirta 3. These variants have more robust facial recognition features and can interact effectively with humans.
7. RADA
RADA is an AI-powered robot developed by Vistara Airlines, a joint venture of Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines, to assist airport passengers. It was first deployed at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport in 2018. RADA can scan boarding passes and provide passengers with information about the weather conditions of the destination city and real-time flight status.
RADA can rotate 360 degrees as it is built on a chassis of four wheels. It also has three built-in cameras that enable it to interact cognitively with the air passengers using its effective voice technology.
8. SSi Mantra
SSi Mantra is a robotic surgeon developed by SS Innovations. It was designed to make surgeries efficient and cost-effective. The first telesurgery performed by SSi Mantra was a robotic cholecystectomy conducted over a distance of five kilometers.
Since its launch, SSI Mantra has assisted surgeons in several surgeries and has become a popular healthcare robotic system in other countries. SSI Innovations recently unveiled SSI Mantra 3, an upgraded version of its predecessors. It has a 3D HD headset and 4K vision to enable surgeons to conduct and monitor surgeries efficiently from a distance.
9. IRA
IRA (Interactive Robotic Assistant) is a humanoid robot developed by Asimov Robotics. HDFC Bank first deployed it to assist bank staff in serving customers. The robot can greet customers and guide them to the relevant counters to perform their desired banking operations.
The bank later launched IRA 2.0, an upgraded version of IRA in collaboration with Invento Markerspaces and Senseforth Technologies. It can answer banking FAQs and has voice-based navigation capabilities to guide customers through various counters. It also recognizes customers using its facial recognition algorithm.
10. PuduBot
PuduBot is a robot developed by Pudu Robotics, a service robotics company. It is used for smart delivery services in the hospitality sector, makes intelligent voice announcements while marketing, and provides essential amenities to patients in the healthcare sector.
PuduBots can immensely improve the operational efficiency of any organization by taking care of goods and services that are delivered. This allows workers to direct their efforts on product development and marketing. They are durable bots as they can work 24 hours with just four hours of battery charging. Thus, PuduoBot is a highly reliable and durable solution that can enhance the operability of any industry.
11. BRABO
BRABO, a short name for ‘Brave Robot,’ is an articulated robot developed by Tata Group with MSMEs as the focus domain. It was designed by TAL, styled by TAL Elxsi, manufactured by Tata AutoComp, and financed by Tata Capital. BRABO was launched in 2017 and is the first ‘Made in India’ robot.
Articulated robots have rotary joints and can mimic human arm movements. Thus, BRABO can perform various industrial tasks, such as sorting with a vision system, press and machine tending, picking, packing, sealing, and welding. It is used extensively in electronics, logistics, food packaging, and the pharmaceutical industry.
12. Milagrow Robots
Milagrow Humantech, a robotics company in India, manufactures Milagrow Robots at affordable prices. It provides a wide range of products, namely Milagrow iMap, Window Seagull, and RoboTiger, for various domestic purposes, such as floor cleaning, lawn mowing, and pool cleaning.
Milagrow also manufactures educational robots that enhance students’ learning experiences by helping them learn STEM concepts and cognitive skills. Its body massaging robots facilitate health care.
Future of Robotics in India
With the emergence of artificial intelligence, the Indian robotics industry is expected to be dominated by AI-powered robots in 2024. Generative AI, a subset of AI, is used globally to program robots. It will help developers focus more on research and development instead of investing much time in coding.
Predictive AI helps analyze robot performance trajectory, saving time and resources required for infrastructure maintenance. In the coming time, you will also see increased human-robot collaboration through cobots that assist humans in performing repetitive or hazardous tasks in industries.
Mobile manipulator, or MoMa, is a combination of mobile elements of robotic systems such as wheels and robotic arms as manipulators. It excels in operations and infrastructure maintenance in heavy industries.
Another significant trend that will see growth is the assimilation of humanoid robots into daily life. According to research by Goldman Sachs, the humanoid robot market may increase to $38 million by 2035. They have cited rapid enhancement in AI and the affordability of robotic components as the main reasons behind this positive trend.
Way Forward
India’s robotic landscape is growing rapidly across various sectors, reflecting the country’s increasing aptitude for innovation. The twelve robots featured in this article highlight the numerous ways in which robots can be integrated into our lives.
From defense to medicine to education, robots are becoming drivers of human and industrial development in India. With continuous AI and machine learning advancements, India will incorporate even more sophisticated robotic systems in different facets of life and industry.
