India sets sights on robotic soldiers: national mission on advanced robotics urged

“We see the dream of having robotic soldiers come out of this country as a runner country. My best wishes are there,” said former DRDO Chairman Dr. G. Satheesh Reddy at the inaugural session of the National Workshop on Advanced Legged Robotics organised by R&DE (Engineers). Emphasising the seriousness of the conference, Dr. Reddy underlined the urgent need for India to push forward in the field of advanced robotics, particularly for military applications.

Calling for a national mission on robotics and humanoid systems, he said India must move beyond conventional approaches and invest in futuristic technologies such as quantum computing, AI, advanced sensors, and active exoskeletons. “If we are talking about robotic soldiers, we must equip them with advanced intelligence, sensing, and decision-making capabilities. This requires out-of-the-box thinking and bold investment,” he said.

He stressed that current fragmented efforts and limited funding are insufficient for such an ambitious goal. “We need a focused national effort with significant funding—running into thousands of crores—to build a robust robotics ecosystem in India,” he added.

Dr. Reddy also urged deeper collaboration between academia, industry, and government institutions. Highlighting that very few Indian institutes have dedicated robotics departments, he emphasised the importance of structured academic involvement to support long-term innovation.

He proposed that India should emulate its AI, Quantum, and Deep Tech Missions by launching an “Advanced Robotics Mission” to drive progress in this critical domain. Dr. Reddy concluded by stating that advancements in defence robotics would not only enhance national security but also generate massive spin-off benefits for civilian sectors and the economy.