NexaBots Unveils Astra-1 Humanoid at India Robotics & Automation Expo 2024 - RobotWale News

Event Overview

At the India Robotics & Automation Expo 2024 held in Bengaluru from March 12 to 14, IIT Madras-incubated robotics startup NexaBots officially unveiled Astra-1, its first commercially engineered humanoid robot. The demonstration drew significant attention from industrial partners, government delegates, and international exhibitors attending the annual event.

Technical Specifications and Capabilities

Astra-1 stands at 1.7 meters tall and weighs 65 kilograms. The robot features a fully articulated 34-degree-of-freedom kinematic chain, custom silicon-based torque actuators, and an onboard edge-computing module running a modified Linux kernel optimized for real-time locomotion. During the expo floor demonstrations, the prototype successfully navigated obstacle courses, performed precision pick-and-place tasks at a rate of 120 cycles per hour, and executed voice-commanded assembly sequences.

India Relevance and Pricing

Designed specifically for India’s domestic manufacturing and logistics sectors, Astra-1 integrates regional supply chain advantages to maintain affordability. NexaBots announced a base commercial price of ₹18.5 lakhs per unit, positioning it as one of the most cost-effective humanoid platforms in the South Asian market. The company highlighted plans to partner with Indian tier-2 automotive and electronics manufacturers for pilot deployments starting in Q4 2024. All core components, including actuators and sensors, are being sourced through the Indian Make-in-India initiative to qualify for government manufacturing incentives.

Industry Reaction and Future Roadmap

Expo attendees noted the robot’s reliance on indigenous control software and locally calibrated force-torque sensors, marking a shift away from imported motion controllers. NexaBots CEO Dr. Arjun Mehta stated that the Bengaluru showcase was strictly a prototype validation phase. The company confirmed that mass production will commence at a new facility in Hosur, Tamil Nadu, following final safety certifications from the Bureau of Indian Standards. Attendees can view the Astra-1 at the dedicated innovation pavilion until the expo’s closing day.

Expo Context and Industry Presence

The India Robotics & Automation Expo 2024 hosted over 350 exhibitors across 50,000 square meters, focusing heavily on industrial automation and service robotics. Alongside Astra-1, the event featured collaborative arms, autonomous mobile robots, and AI-driven quality inspection systems. International delegations from Japan, Germany, and South Korea attended the manufacturing pavilion to assess India’s growing robotics ecosystem. NexaBots’ launch coincided with the government’s push to localize advanced robotics supply chains, making the expo a critical platform for domestic innovation visibility.