Indian Railways has recently deployed a humanoid robot named ASC ARJUN at Visakhapatnam Railway Station, marking a first-of-its-kind initiative across the national rail network. The move is aimed at strengthening passenger safety, security and service delivery through the use of advanced, indigenous technology.

The humanoid robot will operate alongside personnel of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), supporting station operations, particularly during periods of high passenger movement. The deployment reflects Indian Railways’ continued focus on adopting emerging technologies to enhance public convenience and safety.

ASC ARJUN was unveiled by senior RPF and railway officials, underlining the organisation’s emphasis on innovation-led and locally developed solutions. The robot has been fully designed and developed in Visakhapatnam using home-grown technology, with a dedicated team working for over a year to integrate advanced systems into routine railway operations.

Equipped with a Face Recognition System, AI-based crowd monitoring and real-time alert capabilities, ASC ARJUN assists in intrusion detection and security surveillance, transmitting inputs directly to RPF control rooms. It can also make automated public announcements in English, Hindi and Telugu, helping guide passengers and improve awareness on safety and security protocols.

With semi-autonomous navigation along predefined paths and built-in obstacle avoidance, the robot is capable of patrolling platforms round the clock, enabling more efficient manpower deployment. Additional features include fire and smoke detection systems to support timely response during emergency situations.

Designed to be passenger-friendly, ASC ARJUN interacts with travellers through simple gestures such as ‘Namaste’ and provides information through an easy-to-use interface, while also saluting RPF personnel.

Through initiatives such as this, Indian Railways continues to leverage indigenous innovation and digital technologies to create a safer, more secure and passenger-centric railway environment across the country.