Meet Chitti, an AI-powered dog robot redefining companionship in physical world

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to occupy more and more space in people’s lives in many ways nowadays, technologists are coming up with fresh innovations almost every day to make new advancements in the realm.
The latest in this series is Chitti, an AI-powered robot designed to imitate a dog which is slowly learning the tricks of the trade, attempting to become a trusted companion to many families soon.
In a recently-held science exhibition at Birla Planetarium for school and college students, the educational platform ‘Let’s Make Education Better’ (LMES) showcased Chitti, captivating the attention of young minds.
Aakash, who heads the LMES movement, said that the purpose of bringing Chitti was to introduce children to how far research and implementation of AI physical objects has progressed.
Weighing approximately 25 kilograms, Chitti boasts an hour-long battery life and impressive agility. “We named it Chitti, a nod to the famous Rajinikanth movie character that’s well-known in Tamil Nadu,” Aakash said.
The robot is packed with sophisticated technology, including LIDAR for perimeter detection and proximity sensors to navigate obstacles. “Children were thrilled to see Chitti shake hands, sit on its hind legs, and even jump—just like a real dog,” Aakash added.
Chitti’s lifelike movements, though limited by its mechanical structure, closely mimicked the behavior of a dog, earning admiration from all who witnessed its performance.
Equipped with an HD camera, the robot can also function as a home security device, controllable via smartphone. Developed by the US-based company UNITREE, Chitti is part of the UNITREE Go2 series.
Chitti was the name of the android robot created by Rajinikanth’s character, who is a scientist named Vaseegaran, in the 2010 film Robot.