India is preparing to make history this December as the Indian Space Research Organisation is set to send its first humanoid robot to space. Named Vyommitra, this robotic companion will play a key role in testing systems and environments ahead of the country’s first human spaceflight under the Gaganyaan mission.
Vyommitra is India’s first semi-humanoid robot developed to assist in space missions. Designed with human-like expressions, speech, and intelligence, Vyommitra is central to the success of Gaganyaan. The name is taken from Sanskrit where “Vyoma” means space and “Mitra” means friend, making it “friend in space”.
Introduced in early 2020, Vyommitra is not a dummy but a fully functional robot equipped with sensors, voice recognition abilities, and decision-making systems. Its main goal is to perform human-like tasks and validate the functioning of the crew module before astronauts are sent on board.
Vyommitra will travel on multiple uncrewed missions planned before the first human spaceflight in 2027. During these test flights, Vyommitra will operate control panels, communicate with ground stations, check environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, and oxygen levels, and perform system checks. It will also provide real-time status updates and mimic human physiological reactions using internal sensors.
The robot can understand and respond to commands in English and Hindi, move its head and limbs like a human, identify control panels using vision-based tools, and carry out programmed tasks either independently or in coordination with mission control. Its AI system allows it to make basic decisions, which is important for deep space missions where communication with Earth may be delayed.
ISRO Chief V Narayanan recently stated, “This December, we plan to send the first uncrewed mission, which will include a half-humanoid called Vyommitra instead of a human being. Once this is successful, two more uncrewed missions will be completed next year.”
Vyommitra represents a significant step in India’s progress towards building advanced space technology. In the future, her systems could also support satellite missions, planetary exploration, or lunar bases by assisting astronauts in maintenance and research tasks in space.
Also read: Viksit Workforce for a Viksit Bharat
Do Follow: The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News LinkedIn Account | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Facebook | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Youtube | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Twitter |The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Whatsapp Channel | The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News Instagram
About us:
The Mainstream formerly known as CIO News is a premier platform dedicated to delivering latest news, updates, and insights from the tech industry. With its strong foundation of intellectual property and thought leadership, the platform is well-positioned to stay ahead of the curve and lead conversations about how technology shapes our world. From its early days as CIO News to its rebranding as The Mainstream on November 28, 2024, it has been expanding its global reach, targeting key markets in the Middle East & Africa, ASEAN, the USA, and the UK. The Mainstream is a vision to put technology at the center of every conversation, inspiring professionals and organizations to embrace the future of tech.
