IIT-Hyderabad Develops Driverless Cars, Paving Way For Smart Mobility Solutions

The automobile industry has undergone a continuous transformation in recent years driven by technological advancements, and driverless cars stand out as a remarkable feat. IIT-Hyderabad has now ventured into this cutting-edge domain by developing its own driverless cars. Currently, the institute is offering rides to students and professors within its campus. Using various sensor technologies developed at the Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN) center, India's first Autonomous Navigation Testbed (Aerial & Terrestrial) facility, autonomous shuttle cars are now seamlessly navigating the IIT-H campus.

With a LiDAR-based navigation system, the shuttle cars underwent testing and were placed into use on the campus. In addition to the shuttle, the centre is working on a variety of autonomous vehicles, which include aerial, and ground-based vehicles. These vehicles offer advanced, eco-friendly, and secure mobility solutions for the future. The center is also actively contributing to the development of the country's regulations for autonomous vehicles and standard procedures for automated vehicle operations. These self-driving cars have potential applications in controlled settings such as warehouses, university campuses, and airports.

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The TiHAN at IIT Hyderabad is a collaborative effort involving multiple departments, such as Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mathematics, Design, and Entrepreneurship at IITH. This initiative also receives backing and collaboration from well-respected academic institutions and industry partners.

Under the Ministry of Heavy Industries, the Government of India, entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TiHAN, IIT Hyderabad, on June 7, 2023. This agreement seeks to foster cooperation in the domain of autonomous navigation testing facilities. The primary objectives of this collaboration are to enhance the capabilities of the workforce in the area of automated driving by leveraging TiHAN's technical expertise and infrastructure.