Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have developed a social robot priced between Rs 80,000 and Rs 90,000 that is designed to interact with people in a human-like manner. The system uses artificial intelligence and large-scale language models (LLM) to combine voice, gesture, facial expression recognition, and real-time conversation.
Researchers say the robot can understand everyday language, follow verbal instructions and answer questions.
Unlike pre-programmed machines, they can carry out conversations in real time. Designed to serve as a companion in homes, classrooms, hospitals, and community spaces.
Details of the research are published in Elsevier's journal Computers and Electrical Engineering.
The paper was co-authored by Dr. Anup Nandy, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Dr. Asim Kumar Naskar, associate professor in electrical engineering, and researchers Sougatamoy Biswas and Rahul Soh.
Features, uses and future plans of AI robots
The robot is equipped with AI tools that can recognize facial expressions such as happy, neutral, and sad. This allows for an empathetic response.
It can also detect simple gestures such as raising or waving your hand, making it easier to communicate with children and the elderly.
For verbal communication, the system uses a Raspberry Pi to process voice or text input. LLM interprets your commands and generates appropriate responses.
Audio output is generated through Google Text-to-Speech. The researchers say this will allow the robot to speak naturally and convey clear instructions and greetings.
The robot moves using a wheel-based platform and includes a distance-sensing system to avoid obstacles. Therefore, it is suitable for crowded indoor environments such as hospitals, classrooms, and offices.
Commenting on the project, Dr Nandi said the development is in line with Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
He pointed out that the system stands out from existing global models as it combines gesture detection, emotion recognition, voice interaction and LLM-driven conversations within a cost-effective platform suited to India's needs.
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This system has the potential to be used across multiple disciplines.
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At home, it has the potential to assist elderly users by recognizing emotions and responding to simple commands.
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In the classroom, it helps explain topics through conversation and gestures.
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In hospitals and offices, they can provide directions, greet visitors, and assist with basic support tasks.
The robot is expected to be priced between Rs 80,000 and Rs 90,000 depending on the scale of production. This pricing could lead to wider adoption in Indian educational institutions.
The research team plans to conduct pilot tests in schools, hospitals, and community centers.
The purpose is to collect user feedback and improve the quality of interactions. The team is also seeking industry cooperation to support commercial production and expand the robot's capabilities.
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