ISRO has finalized the design of a humanoid skull for testing spaceflight conditions and safety of the Gaganyaan crew module ahead of the Gaganyaan mission scheduled for 2025.

Features of the Skull Design

• The humanoid’s skull is designed at ISRO’s Thiruvananthapuram unit
• It is made from a high-strength aluminum alloy to endure pressure and vibration.
• 3D Printing Manufacturing: Additive manufacturing or 3D printing using metals was opted to make  the design.
  • 3D printing approach allowed for the reduction in weight by 20 percent of the skull. 
• Design: The skull was designed using Blender, an open source software, replicating the size and shape of a human head and the Altair Inspire and Abaqus software were used for precisely designing the skull
• Human Characteristics: The skull is covered with a prosthetic material mimicking the human skin and houses the facial actuation mechanisms to simulate human expressions and functions.
• Strength: The skull incorporates a lattice structure allowing for the required strength and rigidity to withstand the vibrations experienced during launch, while minimising weight as much as possible.

About Vyomitra

• Vyommitra, is a female humanoid half-robot that has been specifically designed for unmanned test missions preceding the Gaganyaan human spaceflight mission. 
  • Vyomitra is a half-humanoid robot due to the absence of legs, it possesses the ability to bend forward and sideways. 
• It is created by Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) and derives its name from the Sanskrit words Vyoma (meaning “Space”) and Mitra (meaning “Friend”). 
• Launch: The uncrewed ‘VyomMitra’ mission  is scheduled to be launched in the year 2025
• Characteristics: 
  • Humane Features: Vyomitra will carry facial expressions, speech capabilities, and sight functions. 
  • Monitoring the Mission: It will monitor crew parameters, perform Environmental Control and Life Support System (ECLSS) functions, and mimic all crew activity like switch operations on a panel, etc.
  • Response Function: Vyomitra will serve as a companion for the astronaut, recognize his face and respond to various queries.
  • Data Collection: Vyomitra will record parameters like heat, noise, gravitational de-acceleration etc through various sensors and instrumentation present inside during the space flight, to enable scientists to make future space flight more safer for humans.
  • Its AI-enabled design, allowing it to withstand vibrations and shocks during flight. 

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