Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Autonomous Navigation on Technology Innovation Hub (TIHAN) in Hyderabad has created artificial intelligence-based software for operating unmanned buses on campus. This system is used to transport students and faculty between different locations within the laboratory.
Operational scope and current usage
According to Tihan officials, self-driving cars now operate only within campus restrictions, not public roads. Since its deployment, the bus has transported more than 10,000 passengers. Approximately 90% of users provide positive feedback, the team said. This technology relies on a set of sensors that can be adapted to a wide variety of vehicles, ranging from electrical models to internal combustion engine models.
The service has attracted interest from other educational institutions investigating potential applications as well as the Telangana government. The developer noted that the technology could be suitable for deployment at airports where traffic conditions are relatively predictable, large educational campuses or industrial sites.
Data collection for road conditions in India
To adapt the system to Indian road conditions, Tihan conducted extensive data collection. This includes testing of specially equipped sports utility vehicles (SUVs) that run from Hyderabad to Jammu. The project, known as “Safari,” covers about 4,000 km in one direction, with a total return trip of around 8,000 km. During the trip, the team passed through nearly 35 cities and gathered information on various road types, traffic patterns and environmental conditions.
The collected data is used to train and fine-tune autonomous navigation algorithms with the aim of improving performance in a variety of weather and traffic conditions. Tihan's engineers said the system is being tested successfully in a controlled environment, but further evaluation in uncontrolled real-world conditions is needed before considering wider commercial deployments.
Authorities involved in the project highlighted the potential safety benefits of autonomous technology, particularly in reducing road accidents and fatalities. However, they emphasized that strict testing and regulatory approval are required before the technology can be introduced for general use beyond controlled facilities.
