DRDO Humanoid Robots to Join Indian Army For Field Trials by 2027

The Indian Army is preparing to integrate advanced humanoid robots into its ranks by 2027, a move that signals the growing role of robotics and artificial intelligence in modern defence. Scientists at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) have been working for over four years on a project aimed at developing a biped humanoid robot capable of carrying out complex, high-risk tasks, reducing the exposure of troops in hazardous environments.

The project is being spearheaded by the Research and Development Establishment (Engineers) in Pune, where prototypes for the upper and lower body have already been created. These were showcased at the National Workshop on Advanced Legged Robotics. According to officials, the humanoid will be able to operate in tough terrains like jungles, handle hazardous materials, and even navigate confined spaces such as bunkers and tunnels.

Advanced Technical Features

The humanoid’s architecture is designed around three main systems:

• Actuators that replicate human muscle movement, providing agility and precision.

• Sensors that gather real-time data — including proprioceptive sensors (for internal awareness of limb position and force) and exteroceptive sensors (like cameras, LiDAR, and microphones for external perception).

• Control systems that integrate data to ensure balance, autonomous navigation, and smooth execution of tasks.

The upper body alone will feature 24 degrees of freedom, with lightweight arms capable of gripping, pulling, turning, and manipulating objects. Both arms can collaborate for complex tasks, such as handling explosives or dangerous liquids. Equipped with closed-loop gripping systems, the robot can adapt its force while holding objects, a key requirement for bomb disposal and field logistics.

The humanoid is also being engineered with fall and push recovery mechanisms, SLAM (Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping) for real-time navigation, autonomous path planning, and night-and-day operational capacity. These make it suitable for a range of missions — from bomb disposal and mine clearing to reconnaissance and logistics.

Why It’s Difficult

Despite progress, building humanoids for combat environments is a formidable challenge. Balancing a biped on rough terrain, processing large amounts of sensory data in real time, and ensuring reliable power supply are major hurdles. Weight is another concern, as heavy actuators and batteries can reduce mobility. Ethical and legal issues — especially concerning autonomous use of force — add further complexity.

Global Context: The Race for Combat Robots

India’s initiative is part of a broader global push. China has already demonstrated armed robot dogs capable of carrying assault rifles, and continues to experiment with quadrupeds and humanoids in military drills. This is part of Beijing’s larger strategy to integrate artificial intelligence into its defence forces. The United States has experimented with Boston Dynamics’ quadrupeds and humanoids for logistics and reconnaissance, though most Western militaries currently limit robots to non-lethal roles under strict “human-in-the-loop” policies. Countries like Japan and South Korea are also advancing humanoid research, largely focused on disaster response and industry, but with dual-use potential for military applications.

Strategic Analysis

The Indian Army’s humanoid project represents a force-multiplying technology rather than a replacement for soldiers. By delegating dangerous tasks such as mine clearance, bunker reconnaissance, and handling hazardous materials to robots, India can significantly reduce troop casualties. At the same time, such systems demand robust AI, lightweight high-torque actuators, and energy-dense power solutions to be effective on the battlefield. These technologies are rapidly maturing, but true combat-ready humanoids will require continuous refinement beyond 2027.

Strategically, this step allows India to keep pace with global rivals like China while also investing in dual-use technologies that benefit sectors such as healthcare, disaster management, and manufacturing. However, as warfare evolves, international rules and ethical frameworks will be essential to prevent uncontrolled escalation with autonomous systems.

By 2027, DRDO aims to field prototypes for field trials with the Indian Army. In the near term, these robots will likely serve in tele-operated roles for reconnaissance and EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). From 2027 to 2030, limited deployments are expected, with gradual integration into logistics and combat support. Beyond 2030, fully autonomous humanoids may emerge, depending on breakthroughs in AI, power systems, and battlefield testing.