Mumbai: Country's biggest walking robot, that would move out of IIT on August 5, would be able to carry several equipment and negotiate in rough terrains and disaster-ravaged areas, according to head, Department of Mechanical Engineering Dr C Amarnath.

Designed and developed at the Robotics Lab of the department, the over six feet tall robot, Nataraj the first of its kind in the world, is the largest one built in the country, Amarnath said on August 4.

The robot, which took eight years to be completed, has six legs that would enable it to walk, turn, climb stairs and step over obstacles, features often required for negotiating uneven terrain and moving around in disaster areas strewn with debris, he said.

"Nataraj" can carry tools, cameras and manipulator hands for inspection, repair and maintenance. The six legs are mounted on the sides of a hexagonal chassis and the robot appears like a giant spider. Several styles of walking are possible including crab gait, Vivek Vaid, one of the students involved in the project said.

The robot, weighing about 250 kg, can cross 100 meters of level ground in about 15 minutes and can step over obstacles 45 cm high.

Remote control of Nataraj is possible through the Internet and in a recent experiment the robot was operated from Bangalore.

PTI