At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, artificial intelligence wasn’t just something running in the cloud; it was walking, rolling, and even climbing stairs at Bharat Mandapam. While some headlines focused on controversy, the expo floor told a different story. From robot dogs built in India to humanoids designed for factory floors, the event turned into a live showcase of how AI is stepping into the real world. Here’s a closer look at some of the most interesting robots that grabbed attention.
1. Param: The Made-in-India Robot Dog
Bengaluru-based startup General Autonomy introduced Param, a four-legged robot dog developed in India. Param is built to move on its own. It can detect obstacles, walk on rough surfaces, and even climb stairs. Unlike wheeled robots, this one can handle uneven ground, making it useful for places like factories, warehouses, or construction sites. The company says Param is meant for inspection and monitoring tasks, especially in areas that may be risky or difficult for humans to access.
2. Ottobots: Smart Delivery on Wheels
The Ottobots from Ottonomy are designed to move goods without human supervision. These robots are mainly built for logistics and last-mile delivery. They can navigate warehouses, campuses, and even retail spaces using AI-based mapping systems. Their modular design means they can be adapted for different industries, from factory floors to shopping centres. The focus here is efficiency: fewer delays, less manual effort, and smoother movement of goods.
3. Puchu: The AI Assistant That Moves Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) showcased Puchu, an AI-powered robotic assistant. Puchu combines conversational AI with physical movement. In simple terms, it can talk, respond, and also move around. It is designed for structured spaces like offices or enterprise campuses, where it can assist visitors or support collaborative tasks. Think of it as a smart helper that doesn’t just answer questions, it can also physically navigate a space.
4. Elixis: A Humanoid Built for Industry
Noida-based Addverb Technologies presented Elixis, a humanoid robot aimed at industrial use. Elixis uses sensors like LiDAR and depth cameras to understand its surroundings. It can plan tasks, move around workplaces, and even pick up objects using five-finger hands. The goal is to reduce human involvement in repetitive or risky tasks. Addverb also showcased its robotic dog, Trakr, highlighting the company’s focus on both humanoid and quadruped systems.
5. Svan M2: Built for Tough Terrain
The Svan M2 quadruped robot comes from xTerra Robotics, incubated at IIT Kanpur. Designed for inspection and surveillance, Svan M2 can walk on uneven surfaces using advanced motors and sensors. It is meant for factories, industrial plants, and outdoor sites where safety is critical.
More than just demos What stood out at Bharat Mandapam wasn’t just the number of robots, but their focus on real-world use cases. These machines weren’t futuristic concepts locked in labs. They were built for logistics, monitoring, factory work, and enterprise environments.
From robot dogs navigating rough terrain to humanoids assisting on factory floors, AI is no longer invisible software; it now has wheels, legs, and hands.
