PARAM Robot Debuts at India AI Impact Summit: A Quadruped Leap for Indian Robotics

February 19, 2026

Amidst the glitz of imported technology at global summits, a four-legged marvel stole the show—and it was Made in India.

At the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, while discussions swirled around foreign robotics solutions on display, one machine captured the imagination of attendees and proved that India’s deep-tech ecosystem has arrived: PARAM, a state-of-the-art quadruped robot developed entirely by a Bengaluru-based deep-tech team .

PARAM wasn’t just another exhibit. With live demonstrations of dynamic locomotion, onboard AI perception, and modular versatility, it stood as a powerful symbol of rising domestic capability in advanced robotics and hardware innovation—a counterpoint to debates over foreign tech dominance and a tangible validation of the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision in one of the most complex engineering domains .

What Is PARAM? A Made-in-India Robotics Marvel

PARAM is a quadruped robot—a four-legged machine designed for agility, stability, and autonomy in unstructured environments. Unlike wheeled robots that struggle with uneven terrain, PARAM’s legs enable it to navigate the kinds of environments that humans and animals navigate naturally: stairs, rubble, slopes, and tight spaces.

But what truly sets PARAM apart is its comprehensive indigenization. Every critical component—from the design and electronics to actuators, perception stack, and control systems—has been developed in India by a dedicated Bengaluru-based team . This isn’t assembly of imported parts; this is true Indian R&D translating into a world-class product.

Key Capabilities Showcased at the Summit

During live demos at Bharat Mandapam, PARAM demonstrated capabilities that rival leading global quadruped platforms:

1. Dynamic Locomotion

PARAM’s mobility suite includes:

Walking and trotting at variable speeds
Climbing stairs with stability and precision
Recovering from external pushes—maintaining balance even when perturbed
Navigating uneven terrain including rocks, slopes, and obstacles

This level of dynamic stability requires sophisticated control algorithms and real-time sensor fusion—capabilities that only a handful of teams worldwide have mastered .

2. Onboard AI & Perception

PARAM isn’t just a remote-controlled machine; it’s an intelligent autonomous system featuring:

Real-time SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) for navigation in unknown environments
Obstacle detection and avoidance using LiDAR and depth cameras
Object detection for identifying specific targets or hazards
Basic manipulation capabilities for interacting with the environment

All of this runs on edge AI processing, meaning PARAM makes decisions onboard without relying on cloud connectivity—critical for applications in remote or infrastructure-compromised locations .

3. Modular Design

One of PARAM’s most practical features is its modular architecture:

Swappable payloads allow the same robot to perform different missions
Quick-change interfaces for sensors, cameras, manipulators, or delivery modules
Adaptable to diverse use cases without redesigning the base platform

4. Indigenous Components

PARAM’s development team prioritized domestic sourcing and manufacturing:

Made-in-India motors and actuators—the “muscles” that power movement
Indigenous sensors for perception and navigation
Local compute hardware running homegrown software stacks

This reduces supply chain dependencies, enhances security, and aligns perfectly with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative .

Why PARAM Matters: A Counterpoint to Foreign Tech Dominance

The debut of PARAM at the India AI Impact Summit carried significance far beyond the technical specifications. It arrived at a moment when the global robotics conversation is dominated by a few major players—primarily from the US and China—with products like Boston Dynamics’ Spot or Unitree’s robots often showcased as the gold standard.

PARAM proved that Indian innovation can compete at this level.

1. Cost-Competitive Excellence

While pricing details are yet to be announced, Indian-developed robotics platforms typically offer significant cost advantages over imported equivalents—without compromising on capabilities. This makes PARAM attractive for domestic applications and potentially competitive in global markets.

2. Sovereign Capability

For defense, disaster response, and critical infrastructure applications, relying on imported robots raises concerns about supply chains, software backdoors, and maintenance dependencies. PARAM offers a trusted alternative—developed in India, controlled by Indian entities, and customizable for Indian requirements.

3. Ecosystem Validation

PARAM’s success validates the broader Indian deep-tech ecosystem. The team behind it has leveraged growing institutional support including:

IN-SPACe for space and defense applications
DRDO collaborations for ruggedization and mission-critical requirements
NIDHI grants from the Department of Science and Technology
Upcoming deep-tech incentives from the government

As one summit attendee noted: “We’ve talked about Indian innovation for years. PARAM is the proof—walking, climbing, and perceiving right in front of us” .

Potential Applications: Where PARAM Can Make a Difference

PARAM’s combination of mobility, autonomy, and modularity opens up diverse applications across sectors:

1. Inspection & Surveillance

Industrial plant inspections in hazardous environments
Perimeter security for critical infrastructure
Pipeline and tunnel monitoring
Power grid and telecom tower inspections

2. Disaster Response

Search and rescue in collapsed structures
Hazardous material site reconnaissance
Flood and earthquake damage assessment
Delivery of emergency supplies to inaccessible areas

3. Defense & Security

Reconnaissance in hostile terrain
Perimeter patrol at sensitive installations
Explosive ordnance disposal support
Logistics assistance in challenging environments

4. Research & Education

Robotics research platform for universities
Algorithm development and testing
STEM education and outreach

5. Commercial Applications

Last-mile delivery in campus environments
Warehouse automation for non-uniform terrain
Agriculture monitoring in uneven fields
Construction site progress tracking

The Team Behind PARAM

While the specific startup behind PARAM is still emerging from relative stealth mode, the Bengaluru-based deep-tech team brings together expertise from:

Robotics research at leading Indian institutions
Embedded systems development
AI and computer vision engineering
Motor control and actuation design

Their holistic approach—developing everything from the metal legs to the perception stack—demonstrates the depth of talent now available in India’s deep-tech ecosystem .

Supporting Ecosystem: India’s Robotics Momentum

PARAM’s debut didn’t happen in isolation. It reflects a broader surge in Indian robotics and hardware innovation:

Government Support

IN-SPACe’s ₹6 crore AI seed fund for space-tech startups (announced just days earlier)
DRDO collaborations for defense robotics applications
NIDHI grants supporting hardware prototyping and incubation
Upcoming deep-tech incentives expected in future policy announcements

Institutional Infrastructure

IITs and IISc producing world-class robotics researchers
Research parks and incubators supporting hardware startups
Testing and validation facilities becoming more accessible

Market Demand

Industry 4.0 adoption driving automation interest
Defense modernization creating demand for indigenous solutions
Disaster management agencies seeking advanced capabilities
Private sector exploring robotics for efficiency and safety

Challenges Ahead: The Road to Scale

While PARAM’s debut is cause for celebration, the journey from impressive prototype to scalable product involves familiar challenges for Indian hardware startups:

1. Manufacturing Scale

Moving from lab-built units to production-scale manufacturing requires capital, facilities, and supply chain maturity. Component sourcing—even for indigenous designs—remains complex.

2. Talent Retention

Deep-tech robotics teams are in high demand globally. Retaining talent as the company scales requires compelling vision, culture, and compensation.

3. Market Education

Many potential customers still view robotics as experimental. Building trust through successful deployments takes time and patience.

4. Global Competition

Established players have head starts in brand recognition and customer relationships. PARAM will need to differentiate clearly on cost, customization, and local support.

The Bigger Picture: India’s Deep-Tech Rising

PARAM’s debut at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is part of a larger narrative playing out across the Indian innovation landscape:

Sarvam AI unveiled its 105B-parameter foundation model, outperforming global giants on Indic benchmarks
Yotta announced a $2 billion GPU supercluster with NVIDIA Blackwell Ultra chips
IN-SPACe launched dedicated funding for space-AI convergence
NVIDIA partnered with AIGI to catalyze 10,000+ AI builders
PM Modi unveiled the MANAV Vision for ethical, inclusive AI

Each of these developments reinforces the others. Compute infrastructure enables model training. Model training creates demand for robotics AI. Robotics AI requires hardware innovation. Hardware innovation attracts talent and investment. And all of it is guided by a policy framework that prioritizes sovereignty, inclusion, and ethical development.

PARAM is proof that this virtuous cycle is now producing tangible, world-class products.

Conclusion: Walking Tall for Indian Innovation

As the India AI Impact Summit 2026 draws to a close, PARAM stands as one of its most memorable symbols. In a week of announcements about compute clusters, foundation models, and policy frameworks, this four-legged robot reminded everyone that Indian innovation can walk, climb, and perceive—and do it with components designed and built at home.

For the Bengaluru team behind PARAM, this debut is just the beginning. For the Indian robotics ecosystem, it’s validation that the path they’re on leads to global competitiveness. And for the world, it’s a signal: when it comes to deep-tech innovation, India is no longer just following—it’s leading.

“This moment at the summit was more than a demo,” one attendee reflected. “It was a statement: India’s deep-tech ecosystem is delivering tangible, world-class robotics solutions right here at home.”

Watch this space—and these four legs—for more breakthroughs to come.