Ranjeet Srivastava along with Rashmi, the humanoid robot, in Ranchi

RANCHI: Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has approached Ranchi-based amateur engineer Ranjeet Srivastava, who has developed the world’s first multilingual social humanoid, Rashmi, to use it for India’s first manned mission in space, called Gaganyaan, in 2022.

Two ISRO scientists, Tirtha Pratim Das and Raghu N, had recently met Srivastava and Rashmi in Ranchi with a list of questions and asked Srivastava to develop the existing robot with certain simulated features resembling human physiology. While leaving, the scientists said a decision on Rashmi would be taken at ISRO headquarters in Bangalore following a review soon.

According to ISRO, humanoids will be sent to space on two occasions before the agency sends humans by 2022. The humanoid is to be flown in the unmanned flights planned before the actual human space flight mission in 2022.

Speaking about the interaction with ISRO scientists, Srivastava said Rashmi answered some of the questions asked by them during the interview. “It was a four-hour long interaction where I demonstrated the capabilities of Rashmi,” Srivastava said.

The scientists recorded various technical aspects and specifications of the robot, including its power consumption pattern, battery backup, possibility of extending the battery life, data recording capabilities among others.

Srivastava said ISRO wants the humanoid to simulate various physiological activities like respiration, blood circulation system, incorporation of blood pressure monitoring mechanism etc. “I have been working on integrating a cooling system in a way so that warm air comes out of her nostrils and the machine inside gets cooled. It will be the closest resemblance to the expiration (exhalation) system of human beings,” he said.

Srivastava added that he can complete the work on human simulation within nine to 10 months after once he gets a nod from ISRO.

Meanwhile, Srivastava claimed that the scientists informed him on Saturday that documents related to the interview and technical specifications of the robot have been submitted to a high-powered committee at the ISRO headquarters. “They will review the details and get back to me,” Srivastava added,

Though Das abstained from talking to the media, he informed Srivastava that sending a humanoid to space would precede manned mission to space. “Rashmi was able to convince the scientist that she is close to humans in emotional quotient and could communicate with facial expressions whereas I am convinced that she can simulated with some of the physiological features resembling human soon,” he said.