The technology department of the defense had earlier in December last year, designed and inducted into service a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Daksh. Daksh was used for handling bombs like Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). This remote controlled soldier was used in insurgency hit areas, to lessen human risk. But the brain behind the robot, Research and Development Establishment (R&DE), Dighi, is embarking on an improvised mission. The latest robot will be a Gun Mounted one, which can travel in nights too.

Christened Gun Mounted Robot (GMR), it will have a 7.62 mm light machine gun with 'belt-fed ammunition' and a 30 mm grenade launcher. The GMR will not only pack lethal firepower but will also have night vision and thermal imaging equipment.

Dr. Alok Mukherjee, who heads the Robotics Development Center of R&DE, said that the robot could replace soldiers in sensitive locations in insurgency-hit areas thereby minimizing human losses.  "The original platform, which carried the Daksh was too slow for a weaponised version. So we designed a much faster and silent electrical engine that is four times powerful than the original. The batteries will also be replaced with newly developed ones which can last longer along with the range which will be increased to 1km from 0.5 km," Mukherjee said. R&DE has already completed the prototype version and it will be another 2 years until the final product is ready after a series of tests and alterations. (With inputs from internet: AarKay)