Imphal : Ajay Kumar Bhalla has lauded the achievements of Manipuri researcher Albert Rajkumar for his pioneering work on human-robot collaboration for lunar infrastructure development, describing it as a reflection of the innovation and resilience of the state’s youth.

Marking National Technology Day, the Governor highlighted Rajkumar’s work in a Facebook post on Monday, praising his contributions to advanced space research at the University of Adelaide in Australia.

Bhalla said Rajkumar’s journey from Manipur to the global space research community serves as an inspiration for young people to “dream bigger, innovate fearlessly, and shape the technologies of tomorrow.”

Rajkumar is currently presenting his research at the Australian Rover Challenge 2026, where his work focuses on developing extended reality-based simulation tools for construction in extreme lunar environments.

One of the key components of his research is “SIDE QUEST,” an immersive virtual reality platform designed to enable collaboration between humans and robotic systems under simulated lunar conditions. The project aims to explore how coordinated human-robot systems could be used to build sustainable infrastructure for future space missions beyond Earth.

A PhD researcher and space architect, Rajkumar combines expertise in architecture, robotics and extended reality technologies to study extraterrestrial habitats and future space infrastructure. He previously studied at the School of Planning and Architecture and the University of Houston.

The Governor also linked such innovations to India’s broader scientific progress, citing initiatives such as the National Quantum Mission as examples of the country’s increasing emphasis on emerging technologies and research-driven development.

Bhalla said National Technology Day is an opportunity to recognise the contributions of scientists, engineers, innovators and young researchers in advancing nation-building and shaping a technology-driven future for the country.