Vyommitra, a humanoid robot designed by ISRO's Inertial Systems Unit (IISU), is set to be a cornerstone of the Gaganyaan mission, India's ambitious manned spaceflight program. This semi-humanoid will partake in pre-launch tests and serve multiple functions during the mission.Its design is fundamental for several reasons:
System Validation: Vyommitra will validate life-support and control systems in a test flight, ensuring these systems can support human life in space.
Emotional Support: Beyond technical tasks, Vyommitra is also designed to provide emotional support to astronauts, which is crucial in the isolating environment of space.
Humanoid Design: The semi-humanoid form, with a torso, head, and arms, allows Vyommitra to perform tasks and interact in a human-like manner, crucial for simulating human activities and interactions.
Artificial Intelligence: Equipped with AI, Vyommitra can perform tasks autonomously, react to changes in the environment, and interact with the crew, which reduces the workload on astronauts.
Linguistic Abilities: Vyommitra's ability to communicate in Hindi and English enhances its role as an interactive crew member.
Streamlined Functionality: The omission of legs focuses Vyommitra's functionality within the crew module, avoiding complexities that are unnecessary for its role.
Safety and Reliability: By testing the systems with Vyommitra before sending humans into space, ISRO ensures the safety and reliability of the mission.
Here are examples of how Vyommitra's design and capabilities are crucial to Gaganyaan's success:
Pre-Flight Systems Check: Before the actual human spaceflight, Vyommitra will be deployed in test flights to rigorously assess and validate the spacecraft's systems, ensuring they are fully operational for the crew.
Task Automation: Within the spacecraft, Vyommitra will manage critical operations, such as activating life support systems and handling control panels, thereby automating tasks to reduce astronaut workload.
Crew Interaction: Vyommitra is designed to interact with human astronauts, facilitating effective communication tests and providing a semblance of companionship in space's isolating environment.
Emotional Support System: Recognizing the psychological challenges of space travel, Vyommitra will aim to provide emotional support to astronauts, a novel approach to space mission design.
Conducting Experiments: The robot is expected to perform or assist with scientific experiments in microgravity, demonstrating its utility as a research assistant.
Safety Protocol Testing: During critical phases like launch, Vyommitra will simulate human postures to test the safety and comfort of the crew module's design.
Vyommitra's involvement in Gaganyaan represents a blend of technological innovation and human-centered design, ensuring not just the technical success of the mission but also addressing the well-being of astronauts on psychological and emotional levels.
