Balasore: Neelamadhaba Behera of Santaragadia village of this district, who had first developed a humanoid robot, has now developed an andro-humanoid robot, which can express feelings like humans, do household chores and help the elderly.
The robot, named ROBO-NEEL, developed in 10 months, is capable of multi-tasking. It can be used in hotels and restaurants and also for the entertainment and education of children.
An andro-humanoid robot is an automation, which resembles a human both in appearance and behaviour and behaves like a human. ROBO-NEEL has been developed so meticulously that it can express sadness, happiness and anger and communicate with people.
“The robot can be made to resemble anyone’s face with the technology I have developed. It can also be used in place of our dead relatives and can help the elderly,” said 18-year-old Neelamadhaba, who is now preparing for an entrance examination to join a technical course.
The 5.3-foot robot has a lot of sensors which make it an advanced and smart one, with controllers like the human brain, sensors like human eyes, nose, and ear and motorized systems like human muscles and joints.
The ‘machine human’ receives outside commands through its sensors and then its controller commands to act accordingly. Its sound recognizing sensor detects words and sounds. Its face, made of silicon, can express feelings just like a human being.
Behera, an IIT aspirant, started thinking of this robot when he came to know that India does not have an andro-humanoid robot.
The experience he acquired during the development of his first robot ‘ATOM 3.7’ made him confident of making it possible in a year.
It was ATOM 3.7 that earned him appreciation from all quarters. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik honoured him with the Odisha Youth Innovation Award carrying a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
“I started the andro-humanoid project in July 2017 and completed it in May 2018. With the prize money and donations from private organisations, I have spent around Rs 3 lakh on this project,” he said.
“The science and technology department has asked me to give a detailed presentation about my robot. The officials will examine my system with the help of robotics experts. I hope to meet them next month,” he added.
Behera now plans big ticket projects like a Defence Hexapod Robot, which would look like a spider with many legs enabling it to go anywhere and would go a long way in helping the Indian Army in its missions.
PNN