A Throwbot is a compact throwable tactical robot designed to be hand-thrown into a hostile or unknown environment — through a window, over a wall, into a stairwell or down a hatch — to deliver instant covert eyes-on-target without exposing the operator. The Gridbots Humming Bird is India's indigenous throwbot, engineered to MHA QR specifications for defense and homeland security forces.

How is a Throwable Robot different from a regular tactical robot?

A Throwable Robot is purpose-built to survive repeated high-impact drops (typically 9 m / 30 ft onto concrete), is small enough to be hand-thrown, and auto-rights itself regardless of landing orientation. Unlike larger tactical robots, the Humming Bird Throwable Robot is deployable in seconds by a single soldier and ideal for room intervention, hostage rescue and CQB scenarios.

CT Robot stands for Counter-Terror Robot — a class of tactical robots specifically designed for counter-terrorism missions including hostage rescue, anti-hijack response, building clearing, IED reconnaissance and high-risk arrest scenarios. The Humming Bird is India's leading throwable CT Robot used by NSG, CRPF, SWAT and special operations units.

How far can the Throwable Robot be thrown?

The Humming Bird Throwable Robot can be hand-thrown up to 30 metres by a trained operator and inserted through second-storey windows. Its symmetrical design ensures the throwbot operates upright regardless of how it lands.

Humming Bird Throwbot — Throwable Robot & CT Robot

Name: Humming Bird Throwbot - Throwable Robot - CT Robot (Counter-Terror Robot)
Brand: Gridbots
SKU: GB-HB

Indigenous Throwable Tactical Counter-Terror Micro-Robot for Indian Defense, NSG, CRPF, SWAT & Special Forces

The Gridbots Humming Bird is India's most advanced indigenous Throwbot — a compact, ruggedised Throwable Robot and dedicated CT Robot (Counter-Terror Robot) engineered in alignment with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Qualitative Requirements for throwable tactical reconnaissance micro-robots. Built in India for the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, NSG, CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, CISF and state police SWAT formations, the Humming Bird delivers instant covert eyes-on-target the moment a soldier needs them most.

Hand-thrown through a window, over a wall, into a stairwell, or down a hatch, this Throwable Robot survives repeated 9 metre drops onto concrete, auto-rights itself regardless of landing orientation, and immediately begins streaming silent encrypted day/night video and two-way audio to the operator's ruggedised OCU. As a purpose-built CT Robot, the Humming Bird is engineered around the operational realities of hostage rescue, anti-hijack response, room intervention, building clearing, counter-IED reconnaissance and high-risk arrest scenarios — keeping the soldier out of the doorway and behind the breach point.

Designed, developed and manufactured under the iDEX and Aatmanirbhar Bharat defence framework, the Humming Bird Throwbot represents a new generation of Indian counter-terror robotics — combining shock-hardened mechanical engineering, AES-256 encrypted communications, AI-assisted video analytics, and a tactical UI that a commando can master in under an hour.

9 mDrop Survival

<4.5Kg Weight

30 mThrow Range

IP67Sealed

90+Min Endurance

AES-256Encryption

Humming Bird Throwbot Component Diagram - Throwable Robot CT Robot India with day/night camera, IR LED, encrypted RF link

Download Throwbot Brochure .PDF

Humming Bird as a Throwbot — Eyes Where the Soldier Cannot Yet Go

A Throwbot is a category of tactical micro-robot defined by one decisive capability — it can be hand-thrown into a hostile or unknown space and still keep working. The Gridbots Humming Bird is India's flagship indigenous Throwbot, engineered for the moments when sending a soldier through the door first is not an option. A trained operator can deploy the Humming Bird in under three seconds — pull, throw, watch the feed. No setup, no assembly, no compromise.

Most off-the-shelf surveillance robots break the moment they're thrown. The Humming Bird Throwbot is engineered for the opposite — its dumbbell-shape aircraft-grade aluminium chassis with elastomeric shock-absorbing wheels distributes impact energy across the structure, and the symmetrical design means there is no "right way up". Whether it lands on its wheels, on its head, or rolls into a corner, the Humming Bird is operating within milliseconds of impact.

Throwbot Deployment Profile

🤾 Hand-Throwable

Up to 30 metres overhand by a trained operator. Inserts cleanly through second-storey windows and over compound walls.

💥 Drop Survival

Repeated free-fall drops from 9 m (30 ft) onto concrete. MIL-STD-810 class shock hardening on every component.

🔄 Auto-Right Symmetry

Operates upright regardless of landing orientation. No wasted seconds reorienting after impact — eyes on target immediately.

🤫 Silent Drive

Brushless DC direct-drive with low acoustic signature. Targets do not hear the throwbot creeping through their space.

🌧️ All-Weather IP67

Dust-tight and water-immersion sealed. Works in monsoon, desert sand, snow and shallow standing water.

🇮🇳 MHA QR Aligned

Engineered to Ministry of Home Affairs Qualitative Requirements for throwable tactical robots — eligible for CAPF and SWAT procurement.

Throwbot Deployment Sequence

1PREP

Operator pulls Throwbot from chest rig. Power-on is instant — no boot delay. Camera and link active in under 2 seconds.

2THROW

Overhand or underhand throw through breach point — window, doorway, stairwell, hatch, or over compound wall.

3IMPACT

Shock-absorbing wheels and chassis dissipate impact. Symmetric design means no orientation correction needed.

4RECCE

Silent drive with day/night camera. Operator pans the room. AI flags humans, weapons and movement on the OCU.

5DECIDE

Tactical commander makes the entry call with full ground truth. Hostages located. Threats classified. Entry plan finalised.

Humming Bird as a Throwable Robot — Engineering Behind the Toughness

Calling something a Throwable Robot is easy. Building one that actually survives the field is the hard part. The Humming Bird's structural engineering is the result of hundreds of drop, throw and immersion test cycles — every external surface, every fastener, every internal component is rated for the sudden 30 g+ shock loads of a real combat throw.

The chassis is machined from aircraft-grade aluminium with an option for titanium reinforcement on the high-stress wheel hub interface. The dual wheels are moulded from a proprietary elastomeric compound that compresses on impact and rebounds the robot back into its drive orientation. The optical windows are recessed and protected by sapphire-grade glass to resist scratching when the Throwable Robot rolls across rubble, broken glass or debris.

Throwable Robot Engineering Stack

Layer	Engineering Solution	Combat Outcome
Chassis	Aircraft-grade aluminium with optional titanium hubs	Repeated 9 m drop survival, low weight
Wheels	Elastomeric shock-absorbing compound, dumbbell geometry	Distributes impact across the platform on landing
Optics	Recessed sapphire-grade windows, anti-reflective coating	Survives scratching from glass and rubble
Ingress Protection	IP67 dual-O-ring sealing, conformally-coated PCBs	Operational in monsoon, surf zone, dust storm
Internal Mounts	Vibration-isolated boards, potted connectors	Electronics survive drop shock, soldering doesn't crack
Thermal	Conductive chassis as heatsink	Operates at +55 °C without active cooling
Battery	LiFePO4 / Li-ion in armoured cradle, hot-swap	Mid-mission swap; no thermal runaway risk
Surface	Non-reflective olive-drab / tactical black matte	Low visual signature in low-light room intervention

Drop Test Performance

Survival Rate Across Drop Heights — Humming Bird vs Class Average

Humming Bird as a CT Robot — Counter-Terror Mission Optimised

A CT Robot (Counter-Terror Robot) is a tactical robot purpose-built for the unique demands of counter-terrorism operations — hostage rescue, anti-hijack response, building clearing, counter-IED reconnaissance, high-risk arrest, and VIP protection. The threat picture in CT operations is fundamentally different from open-field combat: the adversary is dug in, the environment is cluttered, civilians and hostages are present, and a single misjudgement can be catastrophic.

The Humming Bird is engineered specifically for this threat model. As a CT Robot, every design choice — from the silent drive that doesn't reveal the breach team's position, to the two-way encrypted audio that allows hostage negotiation through the robot, to the AI-assisted human/weapon detection that helps distinguish combatants from civilians — answers a hard problem that NSG, CRPF, Para SF and SWAT operators have actually faced in the field.

Counter-Terror Mission Set

HOSTAGE RESCUE

Throw the CT Robot through a window. Map the room. Locate hostages and hostage-takers. Negotiate via two-way audio. Brief the breach team with ground truth before entry.

ANTI-HIJACK

Aircraft cabin, train coach, bus interior. Insert through a window or vent. Identify cockpit access, hijacker positions, passenger locations, weapon types.

BUILDING CLEARING

Multi-room CQB. Throwbot leads each entry. AI flags movement and weapons. Operator clears each space before the team commits.

COUNTER-IED

Approach suspected device. Visually inspect wiring, initiator and casing. Coordinate with EOD team. Optional disrupter mount available.

HIGH-RISK ARREST

Confirm subject location and weapon possession before breach. Reduce force used. Documented for legal proceedings.

VIP PROTECTION

Pre-clear suites, conference rooms and motorcade routes. Detect concealed devices and hostile observation posts.

CAVE / TUNNEL RECCE

Insert into J&K cave systems, smuggling tunnels, or storm drains. IR illumination + silent drive map the space without alerting occupants.

NAXAL JUNGLE OPS

Approach suspected camp under cover. Sub-canopy recce. Identify combatants vs civilians before contact.

CT Robot — Operational Advantages

⏱️ Time to Eyes

Less than 5 seconds from operator decision to live video on the OCU. In a hostage scenario, this is the difference between breach with intel and breach blind.

🎙️ Hostage Negotiation Channel

Two-way encrypted audio lets a trained negotiator speak through the Throwbot without exposing the team. Hostages can also signal status.

🧠 AI Threat Classification

Onboard analytics distinguish armed combatants from unarmed civilians and flag rapid movement — reducing operator cognitive load during entry decisions.

🔇 Acoustic Stealth

Silent brushless drive means hostage-takers don't hear the CT Robot moving through the space. Maintains element of surprise for the breach team.

🔐 AES-256 Encryption

Military-grade encryption on the RF link. Prevents adversary interception even with off-the-shelf radio scanners.

📋 Legal & After-Action Record

Onboard SD storage captures the full operation. Critical for after-action review, court evidence, and inquiry boards.

Throwbot Features

Mission-proven capabilities of the Humming Bird Throwable Robot & CT Robot — engineered for Indian defense and homeland security operations.

Throwable, Covert Recce & Room-Intervention CT Robot

Survives Repeated Drops from 9 m (30 ft) onto Concrete

Day & Night Operation with IR Illumination & Auto-Right Orientation

Two-Way Encrypted Audio for Hostage Negotiation

IP67 Dust & Water Sealed — All-Weather Deployable

Silent Drive — Stealth Infiltration of Target Area

Real-Time AES-256 Encrypted Video & Telemetry to OCU

AI-Assisted Video Analytics — Human & Weapon Detection

Optional CBRN / Gas Sensor Payload for Hazmat Recce

Made in India — iDEX / Aatmanirbhar Bharat Compliant

Performance Profile & Mission Envelope

The visualisations below summarise the Humming Bird Throwbot's performance envelope across capability dimensions, operating environments and mission profiles compared against generic class-average throwable robots.

Capability Radar — Humming Bird vs Class Average

Endurance — Drive vs Stealth Mode

CT Robot Mission Suitability Score

Operational Scenario Suitability

Scenario	Environment	Recommended Mode	Throwbot Suitability
Hostage rescue (urban building)	Indoor multi-room	Throw + recce + audio	★★★★★ Excellent
Anti-hijack (aircraft / train)	Confined cabin	Throw + silent creep	★★★★★ Excellent
Building clearing CQB	Indoor	Throw + room-by-room	★★★★★ Excellent
Counter-IED visual recce	Mixed	Manual approach	★★★★★ Excellent
Cave / tunnel recce (J&K)	Confined dark	IR + silent drive	★★★★★ Excellent
Naxal jungle camp recce	Outdoor vegetation	Manual creep	★★★★☆ Very Good
Border infiltration detection	Outdoor mixed	Stationary observation	★★★★☆ Very Good
VIP suite pre-sweep	Indoor	Manual recce	★★★★★ Excellent
Compound wall over-throw	Outdoor to indoor	Throw + recce	★★★★★ Excellent
Riot & barricade recce	Outdoor urban	Throw + observe	★★★★☆ Very Good
Open-field reconnaissance	Outdoor large area	Larger UGV preferred	★★★☆☆ Limited (range)

Throwbot Specifications — MHA QR Aligned

Humming Bird Throwable Robot & CT Robot technical specifications, engineered in alignment with Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Qualitative Requirements for throwable tactical reconnaissance micro-robots used by CAPFs, state police SWAT and special operations units.

Platform & Form Factor

Parameter	Specification
Model / Nomenclature	GB-HB — Humming Bird Throwbot / Throwable Robot / CT Robot
Type / Category	Hand-Throwable Micro Reconnaissance & Counter-Terror Robot
Form Factor	Dumbbell / barbell shape with dual shock-absorbing wheels
Overall Dimensions (L × W × H)	Approx. 210 mm × 200 mm × 115 mm
Weight (with battery)	< 4.5 kg — single-operator throwable
Material of Construction	Aircraft-grade aluminium / titanium chassis with elastomeric wheels
Surface Finish & Colour	Non-reflective matte, dull olive-drab / tactical black
Country of Origin	India — Gridbots Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad

Survivability & Environment

Parameter	Specification
Drop / Impact Survivability	Repeated free-fall drops from 9 m (30 ft) onto concrete — MIL-STD-810 class
Throw Range	Up to 30 m overhand throw / second-storey window insertion
Ingress Protection	IP67 — dust-tight & water-immersion resistant
Operating Temperature	−20 °C to +55 °C (high-altitude & desert compliant)
Storage Temperature	−40 °C to +70 °C
Acoustic Signature	< 35 dB at 1 m (whisper-quiet drive)
Visual Signature	Non-reflective matte finish, low silhouette

Sensors & Optics

Parameter	Specification
Primary Camera (Front)	Day/Night colour CMOS, HD 720p @ 30 fps, auto low-light IR switchover
Secondary Camera (Rear)	Micro CMOS with IR — 360° situational awareness
Field of View	Wide-angle ≥ 90° horizontal per camera
Illumination	Covert near-IR LED array — invisible to naked eye, auto-activating
Audio	Two-way encrypted audio — onboard mic & speaker
Auto-Right / Self-Orient	Symmetrical design — operates upright regardless of landing
AI Analytics	Onboard human, weapon and motion detection

Communications & Control

Parameter	Specification
Communication Link	Encrypted digital RF / mesh radio, frequency-hopping
Encryption	AES-256
Operational Range (LOS)	150–300 m line-of-sight outdoors
Operational Range (Indoor / NLOS)	30–50 m through multiple walls
Operator Control Unit (OCU)	Ruggedised MIL-grade tablet/handheld, sunlight-readable, glove-operable
Control Mode	Manual tele-op + optional semi-autonomous room-mapping
Video Recording	Onboard SD card storage with timestamp metadata

Mobility & Power

Parameter	Specification
Drive System	Silent brushless DC direct-drive
Speed	Up to 1.0 m/s (variable: slow-creep to dash)
Obstacle Negotiation	Climbs obstacles up to 50 mm; handles stairs, carpet, gravel, rubble
Battery	Field-swappable Li-ion / LiFePO4, hot-swap capable
Endurance (Drive)	≥ 90 minutes continuous
Endurance (Observation/Stealth)	≥ 150 minutes
Recharge Time	~ 90 minutes (fast charge)

Payloads & Compliance

Parameter	Specification
Optional Payloads	CBRN sensor, gas/chemical sniffer, disrupter mount, laser designator, smoke / flashbang canister
Intended Users	Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, NSG, CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, CISF, State Police SWAT & Commando units
Tactical Applications	Counter-terror, hostage rescue, CQB, room intervention, counter-IED, cave/tunnel recce, VIP protection, urban warfare
Compliance	MHA QR aligned; iDEX / Make-in-India compatible

Why Humming Bird Stands Out — Throwbot Comparison

How the Gridbots Humming Bird compares against generic class-average Throwable Robots and CT Robots in the same weight class.

Capability	Humming Bird	Generic Throwbot	Generic Tactical Micro-Robot
9 m Drop Survival	✓ Repeated	✓ Single drop	✗ Not throwable
Auto-Right Symmetry	✓	✓	✗
Dual Day/Night Cameras	✓ Front + rear	✓ Front only	✓ Single
Two-Way Encrypted Audio	✓	✗ Listen only	✗
AES-256 RF Encryption	✓	✗ Open RF	✓ Variable
Onboard AI Analytics	✓	✗	✗
IP67 Sealing	✓	✓ IP54 typical	✓ IP44
Hot-Swap Battery	✓	✗	✗
MHA QR Aligned	✓	✗ Imported	✗
CBRN Payload Option	✓	✗	✗
Made in India (Aatmanirbhar)	✓ Fully indigenous	✗ Imported	✗ Imported
Acoustic Stealth (< 35 dB)	✓	✓ ~ 45 dB	✗ ~ 55 dB

Mission Applications — Throwbot, Throwable Robot & CT Robot

The Humming Bird is engineered for the operational realities of Indian defense and homeland security — but its capabilities scale to a wide spectrum of counter-terror and tactical reconnaissance missions globally.

Hostage Rescue

NSG and state SWAT teams use the throwbot to map hostage locations and threat positions before breach.

Anti-Hijack Response

Aircraft, train and bus interventions where confined spaces and civilian presence demand precision.

Building Clearing

Multi-room CQB operations during counter-insurgency in J&K and Northeast — throwbot leads each entry.

Counter-IED Recce

Visual inspection of suspected devices at safe stand-off distance. Optional disrupter mount.

Cave & Tunnel Ops

Insertion into cave systems, smuggling tunnels and storm drains where soldiers face ambush risk.

Naxal Operations

Sub-canopy approach to suspected camps in dense jungle terrain. Identify combatants vs civilians.

VIP Pre-Sweep

Pre-clear suites, conference rooms, motorcade halt-points and other VVIP-critical infrastructure.

Border Infiltration

Stationary observation in covert OPs along the LoC, LAC and IB to detect cross-border movement.

Riot & Barricade

Throw over barricades to recce hostile crowd composition, weapons present, and structure layout.

High-Risk Arrest

Confirm subject location, weapons and threat level before breach — reducing force used and casualty risk.

Disaster Response

Search collapsed buildings, flood zones and post-blast rubble for survivors. Audio call-out via two-way mic.

Critical Infrastructure

Patrol around nuclear facilities, refineries, ports, power grids — throwable insertion through perimeter breaches.

Throwbot Gallery

Humming Bird Throwable Robot & CT Robot in tactical deployment and training scenarios.

Humming Bird Throwbot tactical deployment - Throwable Robot India for counter-terror operations

Throwable Robot for SWAT and Special Forces - Humming Bird CT Robot

Throwbot reconnaissance robot for CRPF NSG - Gridbots Humming Bird Counter-Terror Robot

Indian Throwable Tactical Robot - Humming Bird Throwbot CT Robot for hostage rescue

Throwbot Engineering Drawings

Design, dimensional and assembly views of the Humming Bird Throwable Robot / CT Robot.

Humming Bird Throwbot side view technical drawing - Throwable Robot India

Humming Bird Throwable Robot top view engineering drawing

Humming Bird CT Robot assembly drawing - Gridbots counter-terror micro-robot

Frequently Asked Questions — Throwbot, Throwable Robot & CT Robot

Q1. What exactly is a Throwbot?

A Throwbot is a tactical micro-robot purpose-built to be hand-thrown into a hostile or unknown space — through windows, over walls, into stairwells — and deliver instant covert eyes-on-target. The Humming Bird is India's flagship indigenous Throwbot, MHA QR aligned and built specifically for Indian defense and homeland security forces.

Q2. How is a Throwable Robot different from a regular UGV?

A standard UGV is built to drive across terrain. A Throwable Robot is built to be deployed in seconds by being thrown — meaning it must survive 9 m drops, auto-right itself, weigh less than 5 kg, and start operating within milliseconds of impact. The Humming Bird Throwable Robot meets all of these and adds AES-256 encryption, two-way audio and onboard AI on top.

Q3. What does CT Robot stand for?

CT Robot stands for Counter-Terror Robot — a class of tactical robots optimised for counter-terrorism missions including hostage rescue, anti-hijack response, building clearing, counter-IED reconnaissance and high-risk arrest. CT Robots prioritise stealth, speed of deployment, encrypted comms and the ability to distinguish combatants from civilians. The Humming Bird is engineered specifically for the CT mission set.

Q4. Is the Humming Bird MHA QR compliant?

Yes. The Humming Bird is engineered in alignment with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) Qualitative Requirements for throwable tactical reconnaissance micro-robots, making it eligible for procurement by Central Armed Police Forces (CRPF, BSF, SSB, ITBP, CISF), NSG, and state police SWAT teams.

Q5. How far can the Throwbot be thrown?

A trained operator can throw the Humming Bird up to 30 metres overhand, easily reaching second-storey windows. The symmetrical dumbbell design ensures the throwbot is operating upright the moment it lands, regardless of orientation.

Q6. Can the CT Robot operate at night?

Yes. The Humming Bird CT Robot includes a covert near-IR LED illumination array invisible to the naked eye, automatic day/night camera switchover, and silent brushless drive — making it ideal for night-time hostage rescue, counter-terror entries and stealth reconnaissance.

Q7. How long does the Throwbot last on a single battery?

≥ 90 minutes of continuous drive operation, and ≥ 150 minutes in stationary observation / stealth mode. Batteries are field-swappable, so a fresh pack can be inserted mid-mission without recovering the robot.

Q8. Is the Humming Bird available for export?

Yes — subject to Government of India export clearances. The Humming Bird is available for friendly foreign nations under MoD and DRDO export guidelines.

Q9. What is the procurement pathway for Indian forces?

Gridbots is registered with DGQA, MoD and is empanelled under iDEX. The Humming Bird can be procured under DAP-2020 categories including Buy (Indian-IDDM), Make-I and Make-II, and through MHA tenders for CAPFs and state police SWAT units.

Q10. How long is operator training?

Typically 2–3 days for a commando or SWAT operator to achieve full proficiency including throw technique, OCU operation, payload swapping and post-mission data extraction.

Deploy India's Premier Throwbot & CT Robot

Schedule a live demonstration of the Humming Bird Throwable Robot / CT Robot with your unit, training establishment, or evaluation centre.

REQUEST QUOTE CONTACT GRIDBOTS

About | Contact | Media