MANAV (also written "Manav," Hindi for "human") is notable as India's first 3D-printed humanoid robot. It was developed in 2014 by the A-SET Training and Research Institute in New Delhi, and publicly unveiled at IIT Bombay's Techfest in 2015. MANAV is a small educational humanoid, created to bring hands-on robotics into Indian classrooms and to train students not just to operate robots but to build and maintain them.
Availability
MANAV was developed as an educational robot for the Indian STEM market — built to introduce students to robotics. It was a teaching-and-training product from A-SET rather than a mass-market consumer or industrial robot. Pricing was oriented to the education sector.
Full Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Maker | A-SET Training and Research Institute, New Delhi |
| Distinction | India's first 3D-printed humanoid robot |
| Year | Developed 2014; unveiled at IIT Bombay Techfest 2015 |
| Height | ~66 cm |
| Body material | 3D-printed ABS plastic; parts sourced/manufactured in India |
| Actuation | 16 servo motors |
| Vision | Two cameras (as "eyes") providing binocular vision for depth and perspective |
| Audio | Two microphones (as "ears") |
| Capabilities | Walking, dancing, push-ups, and other human-like motions; built-in sensors |
| Purpose | STEM/robotics education — teaching students to build and maintain robots |
Significance
MANAV's significance is as a milestone in Indian robotics: the country's first 3D-printed humanoid, and a deliberate educational tool. By being built largely from 3D-printed, Indian-sourced parts, MANAV demonstrated that a capable small humanoid could be produced domestically and affordably — and it served to introduce a generation of Indian students to humanoid robotics. It sits alongside other Indian humanoid efforts such as ISRO's Vyommitra (covered next) and Asimov Robotics' service robots.
MANAV vs Related Robots
- MANAV vs SoftBank/Aldebaran NAO: Both are small educational humanoids; NAO is a globally distributed commercial product, MANAV an India-developed 3D-printed teaching robot.
- MANAV vs Leju Aelos: Both are small programmable educational humanoids aimed at STEM learning.
- MANAV vs ISRO Vyommitra: Both are Indian humanoids, but very different — MANAV is a small educational robot, Vyommitra a half-humanoid built for spaceflight.
