Galgotias University has denied allegations that it attempted to pass off a Chinese-manufactured robotic dog as its own innovation at the India AI Impact Summit, following reports that it was asked to vacate its stall at the event amid controversy. 

Social media questions origin of RoboDog, links it to China-made Unitree Go2 

The row erupted after the university showcased a robotic dog labelled “Orion” at the summit’s expo. Critics on social media claimed that the robot resembled the Unitree Go2, a commercially available quadruped robot manufactured by China-based Unitree Robotics, and questioned whether it was an original, in-house development. 

According to reports, speculation intensified after claims surfaced that the university had been directed to vacate its stall at the expo. However, Professor Aishwarya from Galgotias University clarified that no such directive had been received. She said reports suggesting that the team was asked to leave were misinterpreted and maintained that the group remained focused on showcasing student research and development initiatives. 

“The objective at the summit is to present innovation, academic research and collaborative development within the AI ecosystem,” she said, dismissing suggestions of any official instruction to exit the exhibition area. 

University says row due to communication gap, not intent to mislead 

Responding separately to the controversy, Professor Neha Singh said that the issue stemmed from a lack of clarity in communication rather than any intent to mislead. “Regarding the robot dog — we cannot claim that we manufactured it. I have told everyone that we introduced it to our students to inspire them to create something better on their own,” she said. 

Singh said that the university’s broader mission is to equip students with exposure to cutting-edge AI technologies and foster innovation. “Our university contributes to building future leaders by providing access to advanced technologies in the field of AI, and it will continue to do so,” she added. 

On reports that government authorities had asked the university to vacate the expo space, Singh said she had no information to that effect. “What I know is that today we are all present here,” she said. 

The episode has sparked debate online over transparency and representation of imported technology at innovation showcases.