The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) has made significant strides in autonomous vehicle technology, developing a driverless vehicle system through its Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN). This initiative marks a crucial step towards creating smart mobility solutions tailored for Indian conditions. The autonomous vehicle has been operating on the IIT-H campus for approximately 18 months, providing transportation to over 10,000 passengers without any reported accidents.
Currently, a safety driver is present in the vehicle, although they do not control its movements. Their role is primarily to monitor the vehicle's performance and report any issues to the development team. The autonomous navigation system is designed to function in various weather conditions and can be adapted for different vehicle types, including both electric vehicles (EVs) and internal combustion engine models. The team is actively working to enhance the safety features of the system, with the ultimate goal of eliminating the need for a human monitor.
While the vehicle is not yet deployed on public roads, it is being tested for potential use in controlled environments such as airports, warehouses, and large educational or industrial campuses. The success of the IIT-H's driverless shuttle demonstrates a viable model for low-speed, controlled-environment autonomous transport. The interest from Telangana's government and other institutions signals potential expansion.
TiHAN's autonomous stack integrates multi-sensor fusion, perception algorithms, path planning, and control systems. The AI system is trained on extensive real-world data collected during an 8,000 km "Safari" across 35 Indian cities, capturing diverse traffic and weather conditions. This extensive data collection helps refine the AI algorithms to handle the complexities of Indian roadways. The buses have achieved Technology Readiness Level 9 (TRL-9), confirming their proven performance under real conditions.
The project is viewed as a strategic move towards preparing India for autonomous mobility. IIT-H also offers AI and ML training programs to build a skilled workforce for future innovations. Passenger feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with a reported satisfaction rate of 90%. The initiative is supported by India's first autonomous driving testbed, also developed by TiHAN, which replicates Indian traffic conditions to validate self-driving technologies.
The Indian autonomous vehicle market is projected to experience substantial growth, increasing from $2.6 billion in 2024 to $23.3 billion by 2033, with an anticipated compound annual growth rate of 24.3%. The Indian government has demonstrated its commitment to this sector by allocating approximately $1 billion for autonomous vehicle research and development in 2024. These projects still operate exclusively in campus environments, highlighting the technical and regulatory efforts needed before commercial viability.
