The R&DE (E) began its robot campaign in 2008 with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) ‘Daksh’, which is a multi-functional robot on wheels with two metallic arms, four cameras and a mounted gun.
Bomb disposing and gun-mounted robots are ready and being tested at the Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) R&DE (E) laboratory, as the Pune defence laboratory goes robotic in its golden jubilee year, beginning Wednesday.
Robots that can detect and defuse improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in trains and airplanes are also in the design stage and prototypes should be ready next year.
The R&DE (E) began its robot campaign in 2008 with the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) ‘Daksh’, which is a multi-functional robot on wheels with two metallic arms, four cameras and a mounted gun. It can climb stairs, break open locks, handle and defuse bombs. ‘Daksh’ is operated from a remote vehicle.
While two units of ‘Daksh’ are being currently inspected by the Indian Army, the first batch of 20 ‘Daksh’ units are being manufactured in three different locations in India and should be delivered to the Indian Army in 2011.
Speaking to DNA at the R&DE(E) in Dighi on Tuesday, its director, S Guruprasad said, “Robotics is the need of the hour. Low intensity conflicts are claiming many innocent lives in our country. As defence scientists we are pained to see this. We are therefore motivated to deliver robots that can help in the fight against terror.’’
Guruprasad told DNA that the gun-mounted robot could storm a terrorist hideout and take on terrorists, while the disruptor robot could help bomb disposal squads handle and defuse bombs in busy market places.
In 2010, the R&DE(E) had designed and launched the highly sophisticated unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) ‘Netra’, which can help armed forces in low intensity conflicts in the jungles and mountains of India. This year, the defence scientists at the Pune-based Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) centre will also launch a 46-metre-long modular bridge which is expected to add to the might of the Corps of
Engineers in combat situations.
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