Galgotias University row: After Chinese robot dog, varsity under lens over Korean drone

Galgotias University, already facing backlash for allegedly presenting a Chinese robot dog as its own innovation, is now under fresh scrutiny over claims related to a drone displayed at the same event. Reports suggest the robot dog was not the only device showcased under the Greater Noida-based institute’s label, with questions now being raised about a drone soccer system it exhibited.

According to a report by The Times of India, the university presented a “drone soccer arena,” describing it as an in-house innovation developed on campus.

However, several social media users disputed the claim, pointing out similarities with commercially available drone soccer systems from South Korea.


A communications professor from the university reportedly defended the exhibit, stating that the drone soccer arena was fully developed by the institution and calling it “India’s first” such system.

“It is a very interesting project. From end-to-end engineering to its applications, everything has been done at the university. This is India’s first drone soccer arena. Students play games inside the arena, fly the drones, improve their flying skills, and are working to enhance its strength and features,” she said.

Despite these claims, social media users alleged that the drone closely resembles commercially available models from South Korea. Some identified Helsel as a pioneer in drone soccer, noting that the company introduced the sport in 2015 and launched it in South Korea in 2017. The sport is also recognised by the World Air Sports Federation. Others claimed the drone appears similar to products such as the Stryker V3 ARF, which is available commercially.

Meanwhile, the Youth Congress questioned the university’s claims saying, “First China, now Korea. Galgotias is on a world tour of ‘borrowed’ innovation. They claimed to have built India’s first drone soccer system from scratch on campus, but it’s actually just a Striker V3 ARF from Korea,” the organisation said.

This controversy comes shortly after the university faced criticism for showcasing a robotic dog named “Orion,” which observers identified as the Unitree Go2, a commercially available robot developed by Chinese robotics company Unitree. The incident triggered widespread debate at the AI Impact Summit, a flagship event inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The university has not issued a fresh clarification regarding the drone soccer arena allegations. However, in response to the earlier robot dog controversy, the institute had dismissed the claims as “propaganda” in a press statement.

The initial controversy centred on the robotic dog displayed at the university’s stall, which critics said was presented as an in-house innovation despite being a commercially available product priced at around ₹2–3 lakh in India. The incident raised broader concerns about the presentation of imported technologies at a national AI platform intended to showcase indigenous innovation.

As scrutiny increased, the university’s pavilion at the AI summit was reportedly asked to vacate the exhibition area, with organisers emphasising the need to maintain transparency and compliance standards at the event.