Meet Vyommitra, The Talking Humanoid That ISRO Will Send To Space

The lady robot was unveiled by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Image: Tiwtter

New Delhi: In a first, the Indian Space Research Organisation, ISRO, will be sending a female humanoid  “Vyommitra” in the unmanned Gaganyaan spacecraft in December 2021, before orbiting astronauts. The lady robot was unveiled by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in Bengaluru on Wednesday. It is called half-humanoid since it does not have legs, though it can bend forward and sideways. The robot was the centre of attraction at the inaugural session of the "Human Spaceflight and Exploration - Present Challenges and Future Trends" here on Wednesday. Vyommitra, a combination of two Sanskrit words Vyoma (Space) and Mitra (Friend), took everyone by surprise when she introduced herself to the audience gathered there. "Hello everyone. I am Vyommitra, the prototype of the half-humanoid, been made for the first unmanned Gaganyaan mission," the robot said. Explaining about the role in the mission, she said, "I can monitor through module parameters, alert you and perform life support operations. I can perform activities like switch panel operations..." The robot said she can also be a companion and converse with the astronauts, recognise them and can also respond to their queries. he humanoid on Wednesday on Twitter and wrote, "In the run up to the first Human Space Mission by India at ISRO...'Vyommitra', the humanoid for #Gaganyaan unveiled. This prototype of humanoid will go as trial before Gaganyaan goes with astronauts."

In the run up to the first Human Space Mission by India at @isro ... 'Vyommitra', the humanoid for #Gaganyaan unveiled. This prototype of humanoid will go as trial before Gaganyaan goes with Astronauts. #ISRO pic.twitter.com/pnzklgSfqu

— Dr Jitendra Singh (@DrJitendraSingh) January 22, 2020

ISRO chairman K Sivan told reporters the half humanoid will simulate human functions in space and also interact with the environment control life support system. "It will be simulating exactly the human functions there (in space). It will check whether the system is right. Union Minister of State for Department of Space and Atomic Energy Dr Jitendra Singh too shared a video of t