Ati Motors, a robotics company based in Bengaluru, has developed a humanoid robot called Sherpa Mecha that can lift, scan, and deliver materials. Known for its Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), Ati Motors focused on practical applications in industries while creating the Sherpa Mecha. This humanoid is not designed to resemble a human assistant from a science-fiction movie. Instead, it is built to enhance factory automation with exceptional dexterity and efficiency, representing a significant advancement for India’s robotics industry. The company's existing Sherpa range already completes over a million autonomous missions annually, serving clients across India, Southeast Asia, the United States, and Mexico. The Mecha variant aims to bring "total automation" within closer reach.

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Human-Inspired, Machine-Optimised

Ati Motors’ co-founder and CEO Saurabh Chandra describes Sherpa Mecha as “human-inspired”—a machine that borrows the best from human design without trying to imitate people too closely. “Many humanoids globally focus on looking too human-like,” Chandra explains. “We prefer to take inspiration from humans while still leaning into the strengths of a machine.”

That philosophy is clear in the design. Instead of legs, Sherpa Mecha rolls on wheels for faster, more stable movement across the factory floor. Its carbon-fibre arms can lift 12 kilograms at nearly a metre’s reach—far exceeding human capacity—with future versions targeting a 35-kilogram load. Instead of delicate human-like fingers, the robot uses interchangeable tools that it can swap mid-task, switching seamlessly from bin-picking to item-picking without pausing. Cameras embedded in its “hands” give it high-precision vision for inspection and measurement tasks.

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From Labs to Assembly Lines

Currently, Sherpa Mecha is positioned as a research product and will spend the next year working with industrial R&D teams and universities before entering full-scale production environments. Ati Motors sees strong potential in discrete manufacturing sectors — particularly automotive and electronics assembly — where small, intricate components demand both dexterity and consistent quality.

A Rising Industrial Robotics Wave in India

Sherpa Mecha’s debut comes at a time when India’s robotics sector is making bold strides into humanoid applications for manufacturing. Reliance-backed Addverb Technologies is preparing to unveil its own dual-arm humanoid in late 2025, targeting industrial assembly and material handling.

Meanwhile, Kochi-based Sastra Robotics is developing advanced systems for manufacturing test automation, and Zoho-backed Asimov Robotics, known for healthcare and service humanoids, is exploring extensions into factory use cases.

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According to a founder of another Bengaluru-based robotics startup working on industrial and defence robots, the momentum is undeniable. “The global narrative is shifting from humanoids as service robots to serious industrial tools,” he said. “India has an edge — our ability to integrate IT and hardware efficiently and build at a fraction of Western costs gives us a competitive advantage.”