Pune Student Makes Autonomous Driverless Vehicle

Pune, 11th August 2021: Final year students of MIT World Peace University from the School of Mechanical Engineering and Electronics and Telecommunications (E&T) have developed India’s first driverless, autonomous, electric four-wheeler.

MAEER’S MIT Founder Trustee Prof. Prakash Joshi, and Head of School of Mechanical Engineering of MIT World Peace University and project Guide Prof. Dr. Ganesh Kakandikar addressed the press.

MIT World Peace University students Yash Keskar, Sudhanshu Manerikar, Saurabh Damakle, Shubhang Kulkarni, Pratyaksh Pandey and Prerna Kolipaka demonstrated driverless, electric, four seater, four wheeler bolt-on autonomous vehicles.

The automotive industry has grown exponentially in the last decade, the economy has improved due to globalization, and easy access to credit due to the policies of banks has made the four-wheeler a dream come true for the middle class. The purpose of the vehicle has not only remained as a means of transport but also to make it more comfortable.

Sales of electric vehicles have increased in the last two years due to shortage of petrol and diesel. Engineers are working to make the vehicles more advanced, with autonomous, driverless modes on which Tesla and Google are already working.

The developed vehicle uses state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence systems to reduce accidents and deaths caused by human errors. The car is based on Level Three autonomy and uses BLDC motors. A lithium iron Phosphate battery has been used to power the vehicle, said student Yash Keskar.

The steering, throttle and brakes are controlled using a number of AI and ML algorithms, involving leader cameras, microprocessors, automated action control systems and various sensors, said student Sudhanshu Manerikar. This vehicle has power of three kilowatts and take four hours to charge, which can cover a distance of forty kilometers. Such vehicles have numerous applications in agriculture, mining, transportation, etc., said Sourabh Damkale, Shubhanga Kulkarni and Pratyaksh Pandey.

Prof. Prakash Joshi said, this is the first time that a driverless autonomous vehicle has been introduced by the students during project. The Pune Smart City and Metro management officials are invited to see the vehicle and use it to serve the people of Pune.

Prof. Dr. Ganesh Kakandikar said that such electric vehicles can be used to connect metro stations to the adjoining areas, for transportation, on airports, in golf clubs, in universities, etc.

For the management of this project, Prof. Shrikant Yadav and Prof. Omkar K. Kulkarni guided the students.

Dr. Vishwanath D. Karad, The founder president of MIT World Peace University, Rahul Vishwanath Karad, Executive President, Dr. N. T. Rao, Vice Chancellor and Prof. Prasad Khandekar, Dean of Engineering appreciated the students and the guiding professors.