Galgotias University has once again come under online scrutiny after allegedly claiming that its students and staff developed a soccer drone entirely on their own at its Greater Noida campus.
The latest controversy unfolded during the ongoing India AI Impact Summit 2026, where the university was already facing criticism over a separate incident involving a robotic dog displayed at the event.
Soccer Drone Claim Questioned
Videos circulating on social media show a university staff member explaining that the soccer drone was built through “end to end engineering” at the campus. In the clip, the employee says the institution has its own simulation lab and application arena, describing it as India’s first on-campus soccer drone arena.
However, several users alleged that the drone shown in the video closely resembles the Striker V3 ARF, a commercially available soccer drone developed by South Korea-based Helsel Group for drone sports. The model is reportedly available in India for around Rs 40,000.
The university has not yet issued a detailed public clarification specifically addressing the soccer drone allegations.
The soccer drone claim surfaced shortly after Galgotias University was asked to vacate its exhibition space at the summit following outrage over a robotic dog showcased at the event.
The four-legged robot, displayed under the name “Orion,” was presented in videos as a product developed by the university’s Centre of Excellence. Social media users, however, identified the machine as the Unitree Go2, manufactured by China-based Unitree Robotics.
The Unitree Go2 is available for purchase in India at prices ranging from approximately Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh.
Following the backlash, the university issued a statement on X clarifying that the robotic dog had been purchased from Unitree and was being used as a learning and training tool for students. It maintained that it had never claimed to have manufactured the robot.
Online Backlash Continues
Despite the clarification regarding the robotic dog, critics continue to question the university’s representation of technology at the summit. Videos allegedly showing faculty members describing the robot as an in-house development have further fueled debate online.
