Humanoid Vyommitra

Tags: Science and Technology

The pre-flight ground test of Vyommitra, the humanoid designed and developed by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to fly on the Gaganyaan mission, began on 7 October.

Important facts

• The humanoid 'Vyommitra' is currently undergoing pre-flight ground testing at ISRO Inertial Systems Unit (IISU).

• IISU is responsible for the design and development of inertial systems for ISRO's launch vehicle and spacecraft programmes.

About Vyommitra

• It is an AI-based robotic system developed at a robotics lab at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) at Thumba, Thiruvananthapuram.

• It is a combination of two Sanskrit words Vyoma (space) and Mitra (friend), which will be sent on the first unmanned Gaganyaan flight.

• Humanoid will simulate the human tasks required of space before real astronauts can take off.

• It is designed in a human-like shape.

• Vyomitra, designed to speak in Hindi and English, can act as a companion to the astronauts, interact with them and answer their questions.

• It will accurately simulate human actions in space and check whether the systems are working properly.

Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) 

• It was set up on 15 August 1969

• It is India's national space agency.

• Headquarters: Bengaluru

• Chairman: S.Somanath