At the AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, a remarkable story unfolded, placing India firmly on the global map of advanced robotics. The star was the SVAN-M2 quadruped robot, a marvel of indigenous innovation born from xTerra Robotics and IIT Kanpur. This event powerfully highlighted India’s growing expertise in AI-driven robotics, showcasing the SVAN-M2’s impressive capabilities in industrial inspection, security, and navigating challenging terrains.
Though the summit began with a brief controversy over a misattributed robot, attention quickly shifted to authentic Indian achievements. The SVAN-M2 emerged as a star, its demonstrations captivating crowds and affirming India’s self-reliance in advanced, AI-driven robotics amid global competition.
Meeting the SVAN-M2: A Robot of Precision and Strength
The SVAN-M2 is a lightweight, agile quadruped robot, weighing just 11 kg. Crafted from durable carbon fiber, its frame houses four legs, each featuring special Quasi-Direct Drive (QDD) actuators. These deliver powerful, precise hip and knee movements, allowing the robot to step, climb, and balance with remarkable grace.
This compact robot, measuring 42 x 40 x 42 cm, boasts viscoelastic feet for enhanced grip. An onboard computer with user-friendly software offers 60 minutes of endurance. Efficient motor drivers ensure precise, smooth control.
Seeing, Sensing, and Communicating
The SVAN-M2 perceives its world with astonishing clarity. It uses an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and joint encoders to understand its own movements, while LiDAR provides 3D mapping and thermal imaging allows for crucial inspections. All data streams in real-time via built-in Wi-Fi, enabling remote joystick control or complex autonomous missions.
A Master of Movement Across Any Terrain
Powered by Orion AI V2.0, the SVAN-M2 excels in challenging environments. It reaches speeds of 1 m/s (up to 1.5 m/s in lab tests) and rotates swiftly. It can effortlessly clear steps up to 15 cm and climb slopes up to 18 degrees, surpassing many wheeled robots.
Built to withstand challenges, it maintains posture even under significant impacts. Its genius lies in adapting to any surface—deformable sand, gravel, pipes, or confined spaces—through “proprioceptive intelligence.” This all-terrain mobility, surpassing wheeled robots on stairs and gaps, is enhanced by a modular design for integrating third-party tools like cameras.
Applications and India’s Vision for the Future
The SVAN-M2 targets crucial applications: industrial inspection, predictive maintenance, security surveillance, search-and-rescue, and construction sites. It ventures into areas dangerous or inaccessible to humans, acting as a vigilant eye or performing critical checks in rugged environments.
At the summit, L&T Technology Services showcased its potential for infrastructure tasks, signaling scaled production and commercial partnerships. xTerra Robotics positions the SVAN-M2 as India’s first commercial quadruped research platform, continually refining its AI for reliability in defense, urban security, and automation.
The AI Impact Summit 2026 showcased India’s burgeoning strength in robotics. This blend of academic research from IIT Kanpur and industry innovation creates deployable, “Made in India” solutions ready to face global challenges. The SVAN-M2 stands as a powerful symbol of this bright, intelligent future.
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