Robot Shalu with her creator Mr. Dinesh Kunwar PatelRobot Shalu addressing technical delegates of 40 countries at The World CIO Summit 2022 in ThailandTechnical Keynote speech and presentation of Mr. Dinesh Kunwar Patel(creator of Shalu) at The World CIO Summit 2022 in Thailand in front of 40 countriesRobot Shalu's welcome speech at the International Automation Expo 2022 in front of 15 countriesShalu with Prof.Supratik Chakraborty(CS&EIIT Bombay), Sona Seth(Deputy Commissioner,KVS)
Shalu's creator, Dinesh Patel, cites the 2010 filmEnthiran[17] andHanson Robotics' humanoid robot,Sophia, as his primary motivation for building the robot. He worked on the project for three years.[18][19] The first version of the robot was introduced to the world on 23 November 2020 through a telecast onDD News.[20]
Shalu speaking to her fans at International Automation Expo 2022Shalu's classroom teaching inspection by Principal
The robot was made at home using waste materials,[21] as well asaluminum,plastic,cardboard,wood, newspapers, and other items readily available in the local market.[22] No3D-printed components are used, and the cost is low, around₹ 50,000 (approximately $675 or €572).[23] Shalu's intelligent software is designed and developed by Patel usingopen-source libraries likeTensorFlow andNLTK.[20] Work on the development of the next version of Robot Shalu is currently in progress.[24][25]
The name "Shalu" is anacronym: 'S' for Scientifically and Technically, 'H' for Highly Reciprocal, 'A' for Advanced Humanoid, 'L' for Language Communicator, and 'U' for Uniquely Designed. Together, it stands for a Scientifically Designed, Uniquely and Highly Advanced Language Communicator Humanoid.[1]
Shalu can be used as a robotteacher inschools to give lectures in the classroom based on an uploadedPowerPoint presentation developed by a human teacher.[32] She can answer students'queries, ask them questions, and assess the correctness of their answers.[33][34] She can also work as areceptionist, responding to customer queries verbally, as well as viaemail andSMS.[32] Additionally, she can serve as a talking companion for senior citizens and a learning companion for young children.[20][35]
TheMinistry of Education, Government of India,[38] as well as the then Education Minister of India, Dr.Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', tweeted about Robot Shalu on 20 March 2021, verifying the aforementioned facts about the robot's linguistic capabilities and the materials used.[39]
Robot Shalu and her creator, Mr. Dinesh Patel, were invited as guest keynote speakers at the global technical summit "The World CIO Summit 2022",[40] held inBangkok,Thailand, from 22 to 24 November 2022. They addressed IT delegates from over 40 countries.[41][42][43][44]
Dinesh Patel is recognized as a "Star Maker"[45] at Asia's largest techno festival for makers, "Maker Mela 2022." The seventh edition of Maker Mela saw 139 makers from over 15 countries participating.[46]
Shalu was invited as a guest at the International Automation Expo 2022,[48] where she delivered a speech[49] and became the first robot from India to address an international stage.[11]
Shalu is the world's first robot teacher to teach more than 6 subjects in 47 different languages.[50][51] Currently, she is teaching classes 6 to 11 at aKendriya Vidyalaya in Mumbai, India.[52][53] Robot Shalu's teaching in the classroom has been inspected by the school's principal, who expressed that the use of technology in education will enhance the Teaching-Learning Process (TLP) and lead to better learning outcomes.[53][54]
Dinesh said, “I am keen to make it more beneficial for students inimpoverishedcommunities. There are tens of thousands of children across India who have yet to make it to school. I aim to help those children who are willing to study but can't afford it.[56] Shalu can be an example and a source of inspiration for young, energetic future scientists who fall behind due to a lack of support and encouragement."[25]
ProfessorSupratik Chakraborty, from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering atIIT Bombay, appreciated the robot through a letter to Patel. In the letter, he mentioned that it is a great development and that such a robot can be used in the fields ofeducation,entertainment, and several other areas. Shalu can serve as an inspiration for the next generation of scientists.[58] Additionally, professors fromIIT Dhanbad,NIT Durgapur,K. J. Somaiya College of Engineering, PIEMR Indore,[59] and other institutions also appreciated Mr. Patel's work.[51][53]
Shalu has been included in thePratishtha World Records book with the title "World's First Artificially Intelligent Social and Educational Humanoid Robot Made of Waste Material."[60] This recognition was awarded by an Indian world record agency recognized by theMinistry of Corporate Affairs,Government of India.[61][49]
Robot Shalu is included in theInternational Book of Records with the title "Most Languages Speaking Humanoid Robot Made of Waste Materials."[62] Shalu is also featured in theIndia Book of Records[63] and theAsia Book of Records[64] under the title "Humanoid Robot with Maximum Languages."
India
