A driverless car, named WIRIN (Wipro-IISc Research and Innovation Network), jointly developed by Wipro, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), and RV College of Engineering, was recently unveiled in Bengaluru.
A video of Sri Satyatmatiirtha Swamiji of Uttaradi Math sitting inside the car has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter). In the video, posted by Adarsh Hegde (@adarshahgd), the Swamiji is seen comfortably seated while the autonomous car smoothly navigates the college campus using entirely indigenous self-driving technology.
Moneycontrol, citing sources, reported that the prototype was unveiled at RV College of Engineering on October 27.
The outlet further quoted the source as saying, “The event was presided over by Ramachandra Budihal, Global Head of Autonomous Systems and Robotics at Wipro, MP Shyam, President of the Rashtriya Shikshana Samithi Trust (RSST), and KN Subramanyam, Principal of RVCE. This innovation and collaboration is the result of a six-year effort by a team of faculty and students to design and develop an indigenous autonomous car, coordinated by RV College of Engineering faculty members Uttara Kumari and Raja Vidya.”
The project is still under development, and an official launch is expected in the next few months. According to several media reports, researchers are currently mapping and studying Indian road conditions to ensure the driverless car operates smoothly and safely once it is ready.
The Journey Began in 2019
In 2019, IISc and Wipro began collaborating on a driverless car designed for Indian roads, taking into account potholes, animals, and other real-world conditions. Under the WIRIN initiative, they have focused on advancing research in autonomous systems, robotics, AI, machine learning, visual computing, and 5G-based vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication. This partnership leverages Wipro’s expertise in autonomous systems, utilizing simulators and intelligent vehicles capable of cognitive navigation and 5G-enabled communication, along with IISc’s research and innovation capabilities.
In September, MG Motor India partnered with RV College of Engineering in Bengaluru to bridge the gap between industry and academia and prepare students for the future. Under its MG Nurture initiative, the company launched an EV certification program that will be conducted offline at the college’s newly inaugurated Centre of Excellence – a lab and workshop established in collaboration with MG. Staying true to its brand pillar of diversity and inclusion, MG announced 100% scholarships for deserving female candidates in the EV certification course, emphasizing the importance of inclusion in the automotive industry.