At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, a representative from Galgotias University—Professor Neha Singh (from the Communications department)—presented the robot, labeled "Orion," to the media.
She described it as having been "developed by the Center of Excellence" at the university, tying it to their reported ₹350 crore investment in AI infrastructure. In the viral footage, Professor Singh referred to the robot as "quite naughty," a phrase that turned into a social media meme and added to the ridicule.
At the India AI Impact Summit 2026, held at Bharat Mandapam in Delhi, a representative from Galgotias University—Professor Neha Singh (from the Communications department)—presented the robot, labeled "Orion," to the media.
She described it as having been "developed by the Center of Excellence" at the university, tying it to their reported ₹350 crore investment in AI infrastructure. In the viral footage, Professor Singh referred to the robot as "quite naughty," a phrase that turned into a social media meme and added to the ridicule.
The Global Reality: The China Connection
The viral video features a Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot developed by Unitree Robotics, a company based in Hangzhou, China.
-Official Launch: It was officially launched on July 12, 2023.
-Global Sales: It has been openly sold worldwide since late 2023.
-Price Point: Prices typically range from $1,600 to $2,800 (approx. ₹1.4 lakh to ₹2.4 lakh before taxes/shipping).
The viral video features a Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot developed by Unitree Robotics, a company based in Hangzhou, China.
-Official Launch: It was officially launched on July 12, 2023.
-Global Sales: It has been openly sold worldwide since late 2023.
-Price Point: Prices typically range from $1,600 to $2,800 (approx. ₹1.4 lakh to ₹2.4 lakh before taxes/shipping).
Exposure & "Sticker Engineering"
Online users and tech enthusiasts quickly recognized it as the standard Unitree Go2 with a name sticker added, leading to widespread criticism for misrepresenting an imported commercial product as an in-house Indian innovation.
The university renamed it "Orion," which they said stood for "Operational Robotic Intelligence Node," seen by many as an effort to apply a "Made in India" label to an off-the-shelf Chinese device.
High-Level Confidence: The Shield of Deception
The university didn't just misrepresent the product; they presented it with a level of 'High-Level Confidence' that effectively bypassed initial scrutiny. When a reputed institution claims a project is developed by their 'Center of Excellence' backed by a ₹350 crore investment, it creates a facade of credibility. This confidence act ensured that nobody questioned the robot's origin until it went viral, proving that a big brand name can often act as a shield for 'Sticker Engineering
Online users and tech enthusiasts quickly recognized it as the standard Unitree Go2 with a name sticker added, leading to widespread criticism for misrepresenting an imported commercial product as an in-house Indian innovation.
The university renamed it "Orion," which they said stood for "Operational Robotic Intelligence Node," seen by many as an effort to apply a "Made in India" label to an off-the-shelf Chinese device.
High-Level Confidence: The Shield of Deception
The university didn't just misrepresent the product; they presented it with a level of 'High-Level Confidence' that effectively bypassed initial scrutiny. When a reputed institution claims a project is developed by their 'Center of Excellence' backed by a ₹350 crore investment, it creates a facade of credibility. This confidence act ensured that nobody questioned the robot's origin until it went viral, proving that a big brand name can often act as a shield for 'Sticker Engineering
Official Fallout & Sanctions
Following the backlash, the consequences were immediate.
-Eviction: Government authorities reportedly ordered Galgotias University to immediately vacate its exhibition stall to preserve the summit's credibility. Reports mention power being cut and barricades placed around the booth.
-MeitY’s Stance: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) took a stern view of the misrepresentation. Since the summit was designed to showcase genuine Indian innovation to global delegates from over 40 countries, the university’s actions were seen as a compromise to the integrity of the national event.
-DD India’s Deletion: National broadcaster DD India, which had initially aired the interview where the professor explicitly used the word "developed" at the 50-second mark, quietly removed the original footage from its social media handles.
-The Minister's Post: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the robot with a caption highlighting "India’s Sovereign Models." Following the exposure, the post was reportedly deleted or clarified.
-A Massive Failure of Screening & Verification:This incident is a glaring example of a 'Security and Screening Failure' at a national level. For an event as prestigious as the India AI Impact Summit—attended by the Prime Minister and Union Ministers—the lack of technical due diligence is alarming. If tech enthusiasts on social media could identify the Unitree Go2 within minutes, why did the summit's technical committee fail to verify the 'Made in India' claim? It highlights a systemic flaw where presentation is prioritized over factual verification.
Hidden Layers: The Soccer Drone & LinkedIn Fallout
-The "Soccer Drone" Twist: Beyond the robot dog, the university showcased a "Soccer Drone," claiming it as an in-house product. It was later identified as the Striker V3 ARF from South Korea (Helsel), turning the incident into a "double embarrassment."
-LinkedIn Fallout: Professor Neha Singh reportedly updated her LinkedIn status to "Open to Work" shortly after the university's apology. This led many to believe she had been made a scapegoat for the management's marketing strategy.
Following the backlash, the consequences were immediate.
-Eviction: Government authorities reportedly ordered Galgotias University to immediately vacate its exhibition stall to preserve the summit's credibility. Reports mention power being cut and barricades placed around the booth.
-MeitY’s Stance: The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) took a stern view of the misrepresentation. Since the summit was designed to showcase genuine Indian innovation to global delegates from over 40 countries, the university’s actions were seen as a compromise to the integrity of the national event.
-DD India’s Deletion: National broadcaster DD India, which had initially aired the interview where the professor explicitly used the word "developed" at the 50-second mark, quietly removed the original footage from its social media handles.
-The Minister's Post: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the robot with a caption highlighting "India’s Sovereign Models." Following the exposure, the post was reportedly deleted or clarified.
-A Massive Failure of Screening & Verification:This incident is a glaring example of a 'Security and Screening Failure' at a national level. For an event as prestigious as the India AI Impact Summit—attended by the Prime Minister and Union Ministers—the lack of technical due diligence is alarming. If tech enthusiasts on social media could identify the Unitree Go2 within minutes, why did the summit's technical committee fail to verify the 'Made in India' claim? It highlights a systemic flaw where presentation is prioritized over factual verification.
Hidden Layers: The Soccer Drone & LinkedIn Fallout
-The "Soccer Drone" Twist: Beyond the robot dog, the university showcased a "Soccer Drone," claiming it as an in-house product. It was later identified as the Striker V3 ARF from South Korea (Helsel), turning the incident into a "double embarrassment."
-LinkedIn Fallout: Professor Neha Singh reportedly updated her LinkedIn status to "Open to Work" shortly after the university's apology. This led many to believe she had been made a scapegoat for the management's marketing strategy.
The Fact-Check & Official Apology
-X Community Notes: Played a key role; when the university attempted to deny ever claiming development, notes linked back to the original video where "developed" was explicitly used.
-Official Statement (Feb 18, 2026): The university distanced itself, describing the professor as "ill-informed" and attributing the issue to her "enthusiasm for being on camera" and miscommunication. They emphasized it was acquired for learning, not developed internally.
Verdict
The robot itself is legitimate and capable, but it is not an original creation of Galgotias University. This case is a textbook example of "Marketing over Merit." While the Unitree Go2 is a capable research tool, presenting it as an indigenous innovation was a breach of transparency. The incident highlights a troubling trend of "Sticker Engineering." Final Conclusion: Orion isn’t an Indian invention; it’s a Chinese import with a Noida address.
The Orion incident is a wake-up call. If India wants to become a global AI powerhouse, we must move beyond 'Marketing over Merit' and ensure that our screening processes are as advanced as the innovations we claim to showcase.
The robot itself is legitimate and capable, but it is not an original creation of Galgotias University. This case is a textbook example of "Marketing over Merit." While the Unitree Go2 is a capable research tool, presenting it as an indigenous innovation was a breach of transparency. The incident highlights a troubling trend of "Sticker Engineering." Final Conclusion: Orion isn’t an Indian invention; it’s a Chinese import with a Noida address.
The Orion incident is a wake-up call. If India wants to become a global AI powerhouse, we must move beyond 'Marketing over Merit' and ensure that our screening processes are as advanced as the innovations we claim to showcase.
.png)
.png)
0 Comments