Students Design Driverless Bus That Runs on Solar Power, Cost Rs. 15 Lakh
PHAGWARA: Indian researchers have unveiled a first-of-its-kind bus -- an autonomous vehicle powered by solar energy. Globally, most autonomous vehicles developed till date are powered by petrol, diesel, CNG or charged using grid-based electricity. Therefore, this Indian innovation has a double advantage.
The bus can run for 70 km on a single charge. The prototype has been made on an entirely new chassis and has cost only Rs. 15 lakh.
The bus is charged using solar panels that line the vehicle. They can generate two kilowatts of power and help charge the six lead acid batteries.
"This is a driverless bus and it will run automatically sensing the road and its surroundings. It can cover infinite distances as it is a solar bus and the sun is continuously charging the batteries. Without continuous charge, it can run 70 km in one charge. In 2014, we had developed a driverless golf cart and then some time last year, we thought why not develop a system or a bus which does not depend on petrol, diesel or electricity. This project took a year," Mandeep Singh, Project Leader, Autonomous Bus, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, said.
About 300 students and 50 faculty members fabricated the bus at a workshop within the university.
Muskan, a student of the university, said, "I have helped in the technical background, in which I use some of the sensor flow so that the bus can see its own path and move accordingly."