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A driverless car called WIRIN (Wipro-IISc Research and Innovation Network), developed jointly by Wipro, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and RV College of Engineering, was recently unveiled in Bengaluru.
A video of Sri Satyatmatheertha Swamiji of the Uttaradi Matha sitting inside the car has gone viral on X (formerly Twitter). The video, posted by Adarsh Hegde (@adarshahgd), shows the seer comfortably seated as the autonomous car glides smoothly across the college campus, powered entirely by homegrown self-driving technology.
The prototype was unveiled at RV College of Engineering on October 27, Moneycontrol reported citing sources.
“The event was presided over by Ramachandra Budhihal, global head, autonomous systems and robotics at Wipro, MP Shyam, president of Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust (RSST), and KN Subramanya, principal of RVCE. This innovation and collaboration is the result of six years of designing and developing an indigenous autonomous car by a team of faculty and students, coordinated by faculties Uttara Kumari and Rajaa Vidya of RV College of Engineering,” the outlet reported citing the source mentioned above.
The project is still being developed, and an official launch is likely in the next few months. Researchers are currently mapping and studying Indian road conditions to make sure the driverless car operates smoothly and safely once it’s ready, according to multiple media reports.
Journey began in 2019
Back in 2019, IISc and Wipro began working together 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.
The partnership builds on Wipro’s expertise in autonomous systems, using simulators and intelligent vehicles capable of cognitive navigation and 5G-enabled communication, while also enhancing IISc’s research and innovation capabilities.
In September, MG Motor India partnered with Bengaluru’s RV College of Engineering 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 opened Centre of Excellence – a lab and workshop set up with MG’s support. Staying true to its brand pillar of Diversity and Inclusion, MG has announced a 100% scholarship for deserving women candidates in the EV certification course, highlighting the importance of inclusion in the automotive industry.
