A team at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has developed driverless vehicle technology through its Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN).

The autonomous vehicle has been operating on the campus for about 18 months, carrying more than 10,000 passengers without reported accidents.

A safety driver is present but does not control the vehicle.

The system is not yet used on public roads and is being tested for environments such as airports, warehouses, and large campuses.

TiHAN said the navigation system can work in various weather conditions and can be adapted for different vehicle types, including EVs and internal combustion models.

The team is working to enhance safety features with the goal of removing the need for a human monitor.

Plans for scaling up and potential commercial deployment may involve industry partnerships.

🔗 Source: The Economic Times

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Indian autonomous vehicle projects prioritize controlled environments over public roads

IIT Hyderabad’s campus-only deployment reflects a broader pattern among Indian autonomous vehicle developers who face unique local challenges.

Tata Motors achieved SAE Level 3 automation during UK trials but highlighted that “unpredictable behavior of road users and pedestrians in India” complicates autonomous driving deployment1.

Similarly, the IISc-Wipro collaboration specifically cited India’s “chaotic driving culture and unpredictable road conditions” as key challenges requiring algorithms designed from scratch rather than adapting European models2.

This controlled environment approach allows teams to refine their technology while avoiding the complex regulatory and safety hurdles of Indian public roads.

The strategy makes sense given that global autonomous vehicle experts expect personal vehicles to remain at automation Levels 2 and 2+ until at least 2030, indicating the technology still faces significant technical barriers even in more structured driving environments3.

2️⃣ Ambitious market projections contrast with current ground reality