Minus Zero Partners with IIIT-H and I-Hub Data to Advance Autonomous Driving in India
Apr 22, 2024: In a significant stride toward advancing autonomous driving technology in India, Minus Zero, the country’s leading autonomous driving technology startup, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) and I-Hub Data. This strategic partnership aims to cultivate a collaborative ecosystem for autonomous driving and AI research while curating a world-class autonomous driving dataset tailored to Indian scenarios.
Bringing together IIIT-Hyderabad’s academic and research prowess with Minus Zero’s industry expertise, the alliance seeks to tackle the unique challenges posed by Indian driving conditions. By conducting groundbreaking research on various verticals such as foundational models for autonomous driving, computer vision, AD simulators, and synthetic data, the collaboration aims to bolster the AI research ecosystem in India.
A pivotal aspect of the partnership is the creation of a large-scale, engineered dataset of Indian roads, crucial for training, validation, and benchmarking AI models for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Driving (AD). This comprehensive dataset will document diverse road infrastructure, traffic flows, and environmental settings across India, ensuring the highest standards for training AI models.
Minus Zero has previously showcased the capabilities of its autonomous driving platform through zPod, a purpose-built vehicle, in a closed environment. Additionally, the company has announced a strategic alliance with Ashok Leyland, India’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, to revolutionize commercial trucking in the country.
Gagandeep Reehal, CEO and Co-founder of Minus Zero, emphasized the importance of collaborative research between industry and academia in fostering an ecosystem conducive to foundational AI research in India. The partnership reflects a shared vision to nurture a culture of collaborative and open research in AI and autonomous driving technology, positioning India as a frontrunner in the global AI race.
Dr. Veera Ganesha Yalla, CTO of I-Hub Data, underscored the commitment to fostering data-driven technologies and propelling Minus Zero toward the forefront of the automotive industry’s evolution. The partnership signifies I-Hub Data’s dedication to facilitating cutting-edge research and technology development, pushing the boundaries of AI innovation in autonomous driving.
The collaboration between Minus Zero, IIIT-H, and I-Hub Data heralds a new era of innovation in autonomous driving technology, poised to accelerate India’s trajectory in the global AI landscape.
