In a country like India where hundreds of labourers lose their limbs while working with dangerous machines, a robot developed by a Bangalore-based researcher can save many lives and do the same work more efficiently.

The “pick and place robot” can be used for a variety of applications such as machine loading, palletising and other areas where metal has to be pressed under high pressure, which puts human life at risk.

The robot, which is in the shape of an arm, has been developed by Jagganath Raju with the help of the central government’s Technology Information, Forecasting and Assessment Council. It can be very beneficial for the automobile and auto spare parts industries where high precision is required, says Sajid Mubasir, head of TIFAC.

The robot is unique in the sense that it is more flexible than a human arm and is equipped with a shoulder, elbow and a wrist and can move at an angle of 300 degrees. “All kinds of end-effectors (grippers) specific to an application can be attached to the wrist of the arm. Moreover, it is totally self-contained. The actuators and control components are housed within the body of the robot, thus making it more compact than the usually bulky robots which have to be attached with heavy motors,” says Mubasir.

Although Raju had developed the robot nearly three years ago, he found it difficult to finance the project for bringing it to production line from laboratory. “In the U.S. there is lot of venture capital available for technology companies and people are willing to invest in them. Sadly, despite taking big strides in IT sector, banks and other financial institutions are not willing to invest in such companies,” Mubasir points out. TIFAC helps such technology to be used at commercial level. “We want to promote a new culture of research and development,” he adds.

Raju, who earlier developed robots for the National Institute of Oceanography and the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, says the robot is ideal for small industries. However, companies are reluctant to use it unless its reliability is proved.

But the inventor is optimistic about its success. India has between 5,000 to 6,000 auto spare part units, he says, adding that he has received inquiries from companies in the U.S. “The low cost of the robot manufactured here gives us the edge as compared to Japanese robots that are priced four times more than this.”

Raju’s robot also has additional features like a web server to connect it to the Internet to facilitate remote diagnostics, monitoring and collaboration. “The arm is fixed on a base plate can move around and be used for different purposes, Unlike other robots which are only used for a single purpose,” he says. His robots have been sent to the mechantrics research lab at IIT Delhi, and IIT Bombay.