Bengaluru-based robotics startup General Autonomy officially unveiled PARAM, a fully indigenous quadruped robot dog. The launch took place at the India AI Impact Expo 2026 in New Delhi, where the robot became a viral sensation for its rugged, “built-from-scratch” design.
The unveiling was particularly significant as it coincided with a controversy involving a private university that had allegedly misrepresented a Chinese-made robot as its own. General Autonomy responded with a bold statement on social media: “Enough of this nonsense! Presenting PARAM… Not assembled, not bought, BUILT IN INDIA, built by INDIANS.”
Key Capabilities & Features
PARAM is designed for high-mobility tasks in unpredictable environments, moving away from simple “wheeled” automation.
- Advanced Mobility: The robot can climb stairs up to 30 cm high, perform a “crab-walk” to navigate low-clearance spaces, and automatically regain its balance if it trips or falls.
- On-Board Intelligence: Powered by an NVIDIA Jetson GPU, PARAM features autonomous navigation, real-time tracking, and obstacle detection, allowing it to weave through busy Bengaluru traffic without direct human control.
- Rugged Design: It is IP67 rated (dust and water-resistant) and can operate in temperatures ranging from -20°C to +55°C.
- Payload & Speed: Weighing 35 kg, it can carry a payload of up to 20 kg and reaches top speeds of 3 meters per second.
- Battery Life: It offers 8 hours of battery life with hot-swapping capabilities, ensuring minimal downtime for industrial tasks.
The “Sovereign” Hardware Approach
While most robotics firms assemble imported components, General Autonomy emphasized that PARAM’s mechanical design and software stack are entirely homegrown.
- Indian Engineering: Developed over seven months by a team led by founders Farid Ahsan and Bhanu Pratap Singh (the co-founders of ShareChat).
- Component Sourcing: The company noted that the NVIDIA GPU and certain specialized actuators are currently the only non-Indian components, with a goal to further localize parts over time.
- Humanoid Roots: The project leveraged the startup’s earlier work on Atom-1, India’s first walking humanoid robot platform.
Market Availability & Use Cases
General Autonomy is positioning PARAM as a tool for “Product-led” industrial transformation rather than just a research novelty.
| Category | Primary Use Cases |
| Industrial | Power plant inspections, factory automation, and monitoring hazardous environments. |
| Logistics | Last-mile delivery support in crowded urban settings or cluttered warehouses. |
| Public Safety | Surveillance, disaster response (searching through rubble), and security patrols. |
| Timeline | Expected to be commercially available by Q2 2026. |
A Moment with the PM: Before its public expo debut, PARAM was demonstrated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a Startup India event. In a lighthearted moment that went viral, the PM reportedly advised the founders to “take care of PARAM in the Delhi winter.”
