Vyommitra
Vyommitra (Vyom Mitrā; lit. 'Space friend') is a female-looking spacefaring humanoid robot being developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation to function on-board the Gaganyaan, a crewed orbital spacecraft. Vyommitra was first unveiled on 22 January 2020 at the Human Spaceflight and Exploration symposium in Bengaluru.[1][2]
Manufacturer | Indian Space Research Organisation |
---|---|
Country | India |
Year of creation | 2020 |
Type | Humanoid robot |
Purpose | Space-faring robot |
It will accompany Indian astronauts in space missions and will also be a part of uncrewed experimental Gaganyaan missions prior to the crewed spaceflight missions.[3]
Objectives and abilities
India aims not to fly animals onboard experimental missions unlike other nations that have carried out human space flight. Instead, it will fly humanoid robots for a better understanding of what weightlessness and radiation do to the human body during long durations in space.[4]
Vyommitra is expected to be onboard uncrewed Gaganyaan missions to microgravity experiments and support astronauts in crewed missions. It is programmed to speak Hindi and English and perform multiple tasks.[5][6][7][8] It can mimic human activity, recognise other humans, and respond to their queries. Technically, it can perform environment control and life support systems functions, handle switch panel operations, and give environmental air pressure change warnings.[3]
Launch
The humanoid robot is expected to go on two uncrewed spaceflights, the first one scheduled for December 2020.[5]
References
- Dwarakanath, Nagarjun (22 January 2020). "Gaganyaan mission: Meet Vyommitra, the talking human robot that Isro will send to space". India Today. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- "IAA-ISRO-ASI Symposium on Human Space Flight and Exploration was organised at Bangalore". www.isro.gov.in. 24 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- "Meet Vyom Mitra, first Indian 'woman' to ride to space". The Hindu. Special Correspondent. 22 January 2020. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 23 January 2020.CS1 maint: others (link)
- "Why is India sending robots into space?". 25 July 2019. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
- Jan 22, Chethan Kumar | TNN | Updated; 2020; Ist, 14:08. "Gaganyaan mission: First glimpse of 'Vyommitra', the humanoid for Gaganyaan; it's a 'She' | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 22 January 2020.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
- "ISRO's manned mission to Moon will happen, but not right now: K Sivan". The Indian Express. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- "'व्योममित्रा'ची पहिली झलक! भारताकडून 'ती' पहिल्यांदा जाणार अवकाशात". Loksatta (in Marathi). 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.
- "ISRO's prototype humanoid for Gaganyaan mission is Vyom Mitra which will go to space before astronauts". www.timesnownews.com. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2020.