The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has developed and deployed a driverless vehicle through its Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN).
The autonomous shuttle has been operating on campus for over 18 months, transporting more than 10,000 passengers without a single reported accident. A safety driver is present but does not intervene in vehicle operations. Currently limited to controlled environments such as campuses, airports, and warehouses, the system is being refined for broader applications. The navigation platform can function across diverse weather conditions and can be adapted for both electric and internal combustion vehicles. Researchers are now working on enhancing safety features with the goal of eventually removing the human monitor.
Key Highlights
IIT Hyderabad’s approach reflects a broader pattern in India’s autonomous vehicle ecosystem, where developers focus on closed environments due to the unpredictability of road users, pedestrians, and driving conditions in India. Tata Motors’ SAE Level 3 trials in the UK and the IISc-Wipro collaboration both highlighted India’s chaotic driving culture as a unique challenge requiring custom-built algorithms, rather than adaptations of European systems.
Also Read: Uber and WeRide Partner with Dubai RTA to Deploy Autonomous Vehicles
Globally, experts expect personal vehicles to remain at automation Levels 2–2+ until at least 2030, underscoring technical hurdles even in structured traffic systems. While the Indian autonomous vehicle market is projected to grow from $2.6 billion in 2024 to $23.3 billion by 2033 (24.3% CAGR), and the government has allocated $1 billion in R&D funding in 2024, projects like TiHAN’s show the gap between market optimism and on-ground readiness.
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