What Are Robodogs And Why Does India Need Them? Explained

Robodogs have become a topic of discussion at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The quadruped robots, which resemble dogs, first gained prominence after Galgotias University falsely claimed a Chinese-produced machine as its own creation. After a lot of backlash, the university was ordered to vacate its stall at the summit. It later placed the blame on one of its professors, who the institute said gave false information on camera.

Apart from this, a video of Param, India’s “most powerful indigenous robot dog", went viral. Made by Bengaluru-based startup General Authonomy, the machine can be seen walking on the street, crossing uneven terrain and even navigating autonomously in the clip. Param is expected to hit the market in the second quarter of this year.

Robodogs like Param are vital for several reasons. These machines mimic the mobility and versatility of real-life dogs but are equipped with advanced sensors, articulation and computation systems that enable them to operate semi-autonomously or autonomously in diverse environments. These robots are used in research initiatives, hazardous rescue missions, industrial inspections and more.