AI, robotics to shape future battle-ready systems, says Lt Gen Neeraj Varshney

Hyderabad: The convergence of additive manufacturing, artificial intelligence (AI), and autonomous robotics will shape future battle-ready systems through seamless tri-service integration, said Lt Gen Neeraj Varshney at a two-day seminar organised by the Military College of Electronics and Mechanical Engineering (MCEME).The seminar, which concluded on Feb 28, examined the operational, technological, and industrial aspects of autonomy, AI, and advanced manufacturing in future multi-domain operations. It focused on four key themes — robotics and autonomous systems transforming the 21st-century battlespace, technology layers for autonomous systems, defence and industrial readiness for robotics and cyber-physical systems, and additive manufacturing as an enabler for robotics and autonomous systems.In his opening address, Lt Gen Varshney, commandant, MCEME and colonel commandant, Corps of EME, said that emerging disruptive technologies are transforming warfare into a multi-domain, largely non-kinetic form that depends on precision, speed and data.In the keynote address, Lt Gen Rajiv Kumar Sahni, director general EME, stressed the need to improve operational readiness through multi-sensor data fusion, improved interoperability, robust cyber resilience and a whole-of-nation approach in line with the Make in India initiative. The seminar brought together stakeholders from the armed forces, industry, academia and policy circles to promote indigenous, future-ready warfighting capabilities. It also featured senior military leaders, technologists and industry experts, including speakers from IIT Hyderabad and IIIT Hyderabad.