IIT-Hyderabad begins AI-powered driverless bus service on campus

The Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) has put driverless buses into daily service on its campus, marking a first-of-its-kind deployment in the country. The vehicles, built by the institute’s Technology Innovation Hub on Autonomous Navigation (TiHAN), are fully electric and operate without a human driver.

Two variants, a six-seater and a fourteen-seater, are in operation. The buses, newly added to the campus roads, are already a regular sight, having transported more than 10,000 passengers.

TiHAN reports that passenger feedback has been largely positive, with a satisfaction rate of about 90 per cent.

The technology is not experimental. The buses are fitted with Autonomous Emergency Braking and Adaptive Cruise Control systems, allowing them to adjust speed, detect obstacles, and maintain safe distances.

The project has reached Technology Readiness Level 9, meaning it has been proven in real-world conditions.

For IIT-H, the project is both a transport solution and a demonstration of what is possible in India’s mobility sector. TiHAN has also built the country’s first autonomous navigation testbed.

This



facility replicates Indian driving conditions, enabling companies, researchers, and government bodies to test and validate self-driving systems before they are used on public roads.

Professor P. Rajalakshmi, who heads the TiHAN initiative, has described the buses as part of a wider plan to develop technologies that meet the specific challenges of Indian traffic. The testbed will function as a shared resource, offering access to infrastructure, data, and controlled testing zones for private industry and academic partners.

The hub is also investing in people. Alongside the vehicle programme, TiHAN runs training in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to build a pool of engineers and researchers skilled in autonomous systems. These programmes are intended to ensure that the expertise required to design, build, and maintain such systems exists within the country.

While the buses currently operate only within IIT-H’s boundaries, the project is seen as an early step towards the introduction of autonomous public transport in India. Any such move beyond controlled spaces will require regulatory approvals, extensive safety testing, and adaptation to the unpredictable realities of Indian roads.