IIT Hyderabad Plans to Launch Driverless Vehicles on Campus Within Six Months

Published: Wed 29 Dec 2021, 4:09 PM
Last updated: Wed 29 Dec 2021, 4:10 PM

India is making progress in the development of driverless vehicles, with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Hyderabad, aiming to launch such vehicles on its campus in the next six months. According to Prof BS Murthy, the institute’s director, the vehicles have already been developed locally and feature autonomous navigation systems. However, before they are put into use, thorough testing will be conducted to ensure their reliability and safety.

While companies like Tesla and Waymo have taken the lead in the global race for automated driving, Indian companies and institutions are also investing in this technology. Major automobile manufacturers are incorporating advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) in their vehicles, which could eventually lead to fully automated cars.

Various IT and automobile companies in India, including Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Elxsi, Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies, and Mahindra & Mahindra, are actively investing in new technologies to develop autonomous vehicles. Tata Elxsi, for example, has been involved in developing autonomous driving technology for several years and believes that autonomous vehicles can bring about revolutionary changes in sectors like agriculture, mining, and construction in India. The company has even developed its own autonomous driving platform, with all the components required for Level 4 driving, which involves complete autonomy without the need for human intervention.

However, one major hurdle in the introduction of driverless vehicles in India is legislation. Similar to the issue faced with drones, the development and deployment of autonomous vehicles may be delayed until proper regulations are put in place. Nonetheless, the Indian government has shown some progress in this area, as it recently notified the Drone Rules and other legislative changes to facilitate the drone sector.

In addition to industry players, universities and research institutions are also actively involved in the development of driverless vehicles. For instance, students at the MIT World Peace University in Pune have successfully built a driverless autonomous electric car using AI. This technology has the potential to be used for connecting metro stations and airports with surrounding areas, according to Prof Ganesh Kakandikar of the university.

India may still have a long way to go before seeing widespread adoption of driverless vehicles on its roads, but with the involvement of institutions like IIT Hyderabad and the efforts of companies like Tata Elxsi, the future of autonomous transportation in the country looks promising.