Minus Zero aims to be India’s first hub-to-hub autonomous driving tech provider, starting with a collaboration with Ashok Leyland and potentially more partnerships for expanded features.
Tesla’s Autopilot, an autonomous driving feature suite, has become a key attraction for the second-largest American EV maker. Autopilot enables Teslas to navigate highways from entrance to exit. Minus Zero, a tech startup, aims to bring similar capabilities to production vehicles within 2.5 to 3 years.
According to Gursimran Kalra, Co-founder and COO of Minus Zero, their system is like a “highway autopilot” that allows end-to-end driving on highways but requires driver presence due to current regulations. The system is designed to handle Indian driving conditions, including potholes and lack of lane markings, and enables hands-free driving on highways. However, drivers must take control in situations like turning at junctions. The technology, developed by a team of 20 engineers in Bengaluru, uses only cameras and advanced computing, with plans to double the team size in four months. Inspired by nature, Minus Zero’s AI technology employs 8 to 12 cameras based on vehicle size.
As the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) trend gains traction, OEMs are increasingly adopting it. Mahindra and MG lead in the passenger vehicle market, while Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland are pioneers in the commercial vehicle space. Ashok Leyland’s partnership with Minus Zero aims to revolutionize commercial trucking with autonomous solutions, focusing on ports, factory operations, and corporate campuses. The collaboration could extend to hub-to-hub and long-haul trucking, depending on regulatory changes.
The market for autonomous driving technology is growing, with the ADAS market in India expected to reach USD 1 billion by FY28. Minus Zero’s technology offers full autonomy in campus-like environments and L2/L3 autonomy on public roads, where drivers must be ready to take control when necessary.
Autonomous driving technology is advancing rapidly worldwide, and Minus Zero is enhancing its capabilities by hiring experts in AI and vision technology. The company is also working on addressing edge cases and limitations in conditions like rain or darkness. Infrared camera technology may be adopted to improve night driving. Minus Zero, which raised USD 1.7 million in May 2022, is incorporating Foundational AI for better decision-making.
With increasing demand for advanced technologies and the importance of collaboration, technology providers like Minus Zero are poised for a promising future, with potential collaborations on the horizon.
