DRDO scientists working on humanoid robot that can be part of frontline military mission

Previously, we have heard a lot about humanoid robots. Humanoid robots basically look like humans, feel like humans, function like humans, and complete your tasks in less time. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) scientists are also working on a humanoid robot.

🚨 DRDO scientists are working on Humanoid Robot, at very advanced stage. pic.twitter.com/ZWMgVBO1u1

— Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) May 11, 2025

The robot was showcased at the three-day national workshop on advanced-legged robotics in Pune. This is the first time DRDO has publicly showcased a technological demonstration in the field. It is revealed that the machine developed is aimed at carrying out complex tasks under direct human command to reduce troop exposure in high-risk environments.

This robot is developed so that it can be a part of frontline military missions. SE Taole, group director at the Centre for Systems and Technologies for Advanced Robotics within the R&DE (Engineers), revealed that the team has been working on this project for the past four years.

It is revealed that once fully operational, the humanoid upper body system would have the ability to perform complex autonomous operations with closed-loop gripping. It will also be capable of turning, pushing, pulling, or sliding doors, pushing obstacles, opening valves, and operating in high-risk zones. The functioning of the robot is based on 3 principles: actuators act as muscles to generate movement, sensors gather information, and control systems process this information.

Researchers are currently concentrating on mastering balance, rapid data processing, and ground-level execution for this robot, and the task is expected to be completed by 2027. The scientists mentioned that once the robot is fully functional, its upper body system would have a lightweight arm with a spherical revolute joint configuration. It would have 24 degrees of freedom, including 7 in the arm, 4 in the grip, and 2 in the head. It has been designed to safely handle hazardous objects such as mines, explosives, and liquids using both arms collaboratively.

Some of the features that the robot is said to include- audiovisual perception, multiple proprioceptive and exteroceptive sensing abilities, data fusion, tactical sensing, real-time dynamics and kinematics, capabilities for fall and push recovery, real-time map generation and navigation, path planning, simultaneous localization and mapping in unstructured terrain.