ASC ARJUN: India’s First Humanoid Robot at Visakhapatnam Station
ASC ARJUN: India’s First Humanoid Robot at Visakhapatnam Station
Visakhapatnam: In a first-of-its-kind initiative on the Indian Rail network, Indian Railways has deployed a humanoid robot named “ASC ARJUN” at Visakhapatnam Railway Station, the organisation said in an official statement.
The move is aimed at enhancing passenger safety, security, and service delivery, with the robot working alongside Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, particularly during peak passenger movement. The deployment underscores Indian Railways’ focus on adopting new and emerging technologies to improve convenience and safety for passengers.
The launch was attended by Shri Alok Bohra and Divisional Railway Manager Shri Lalit Bohra, along with Senior Divisional Security Commandant (RPF) Shri A.K. Dubey, highlighting the emphasis on innovation-led solutions and indigenous development, the statement said.
According to Indian Railways, ASC ARJUN has been fully designed and developed in Visakhapatnam using home-grown technology, with a dedicated team working continuously for more than a year to bring the project to fruition.
Equipped with a Face Recognition System (FRS), AI-based crowd monitoring, and real-time alerts to RPF control rooms, the humanoid robot can detect intrusions and assist in surveillance. It also makes automated public announcements in English, Hindi, and Telugu, guiding passengers and enhancing safety awareness.
With semi-autonomous navigation along predefined paths and obstacle avoidance, ASC ARJUN can patrol platforms round the clock, optimising manpower deployment. The robot features fire and smoke detection systems for timely emergency response.
Designed for passenger interaction, the humanoid performs friendly gestures such as Namaste for passengers and salutes for RPF personnel, along with an intuitive interface for information and assistance, the release added.
First deployment, potential future expansion
Indian Railways said this is the first deployment of ASC ARJUN, and the initiative may be expanded to other stations in the future as the technology is further integrated into station operations, the statement noted.
It added that the initiative reflects its ongoing focus on leveraging technology and indigenous innovation to create a safer, more secure, and passenger-friendly railway environment across the country.
– global bihari bureau
