Svaya Robotics

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Context

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

Details

These robots are now being brought from the United States and Switzerland to support the nation’s defense needs and bolster its defense capabilities.
As part of the “Made in India” initiative, the DRDO is leading the charge to develop robotics domestically with assistance from industrial partners like Svaya Robotics. As a result, robotics is positioned to play a significant role in the defense and security sectors.
The challenges that India’s defense and security services are faced with are not well-suited for deployment by current robots, which are intended for organized environments and have restricted capabilities.
These challenges include tough terrains and field operations circumstances.
The quadruped robot was created domestically by Svaya in partnership with DRDO and is designed for traveling in unstructured terrains to enable remote reconnaissance and inspection for the military and security forces in environments that are otherwise unsafe for human operation.
Svaya is creating the exoskeleton to fit the anthropometry of Indian soldiers and increase military strength so they can carry large objects with little exertion and walk long distances without becoming tired. Both are dual-purpose robots with a wide range of industrial and medical applications.

Significance

India currently imports these robots from the US and Switzerland to help strengthen the country’s defence capabilities.
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.

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. What steps India needs to take to achieve self-sufficiency in Robotics? Delineate.