The Autonomous BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 (aBAJA) kicked off with great fanfare, marking the first day of the one-of-a-kind student competition centred on autonomous all-terrain vehicles (AATV).

This 3-day competition (from 4 to 6 October 2024) is hosted by the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), Pune, and marks a milestone for BAJA SAEINDIA as autonomous vehicle technology was introduced to the engineering competition. Five teams from throughout the country compete in the event, each of which must complete a unique set of tasks meant to evaluate the performance of their vehicles and teamwork.

Pre-event preparation tests were carried out at ARAI, Kothrud, Pune, from 30 September to 3 October, in the run-up to the tournament. Among these were comprehensive technical examinations, in which vehicles' electrical, mechanical and autonomous systems were carefully assessed to make sure they complied with competition regulations. Assessments of team preparedness and safety briefings were also conducted. To help teams test and improve their autonomous vehicles and make sure they matched the competition's rigorous requirements, trial run tracks were built up for the dynamic events such as Object Detection, Classification and Tracking (ODCT) and Remote Driving System (RDS).

On the first day, static events like the design evaluation and business presentation took main stage. These occasions gave the teams a chance to showcase their creative approaches and intricate designs, emphasising the intricacy and foresight required to create autonomous systems. Teams will test their vehicles' capabilities in real-world scenarios on the second day, which is expected to feature exciting activities that highlight engineering ingenuity and expertise.

Highlighting the significance of hosting the event at ARAI during the welcome address on behalf of ARAI, Ujjwala Karle, Joint Convener, Phase 3 of aBAJA SAEINDIA 2024 & Deputy Director, Technology Group, ARAI, said, “It is an honour for ARAI to host Phase 3 of aBAJA SAEINDIA 2024. This event highlights our commitment to bridging academia and industry. It is inspiring to witness students exhibit the passion and boldness necessary to tackle the complexities of the automotive landscape. BAJA SAEINDIA serves as a vital ‘Introduction to Industry’ (i2i), providing hands-on experience with real-world challenges. Furthermore, initiatives like the iNTELLIMOBILITY Ideathon empower participants to address pressing mobility issues with innovative solutions. We at ARAI are proud to support BAJA SAEINDIA and wish all participants great success in this year’s event.”

Emphasising the importance of technological innovation in shaping the future of mobility, the Chief Guest for the event, Umesh Shah, Managing Director, Autoliv, said, “aBAJA represents a confluence of creativity, engineering, and technology. It is through such initiatives that we inspire the next generation to think beyond conventional solutions and tackle real-world problems with courage and a spirit of innovation. I congratulate the participants for taking up this challenge and encourage them to bring forward their passion and ideas that will shape the mobility landscape in India and beyond. The efforts of the organising committee and all those involved in this competition are commendable. Their dedication ensures that aBAJA continues to be a platform where emerging engineers are not only tested but also encouraged to innovate and grow. I wish all the participants the very best in their endeavours and extend my best wishes to BAJA SAEINDIA as they continue to break new ground with aBAJA SAEINDIA 2025."

Shahkar Abidi, Assistant Editor at Autocar, graced the occasion as the Guest of Honour. Stressing the importance of continuous learning and practical exposure for engineering students, he said, “Autonomous driving and intelligent mobility are no longer just concepts; they are the future. BAJA SAEINDIA has always been ahead of the curve in providing hands-on experiences to students, and aBAJA is a testament to this vision. The passion and drive I see among these students will surely propel them to become future leaders in the automotive industry.”

The grand inaugural ceremony also saw the presence of esteemed dignitaries from both industry and academia, including Ganesh Rao, Director of R&D at Continental; Shantanu Sonar, DGM at Daimler Truck Innovation Centre India (DTICI); Dr P Rajalakshmi from TiHAN, IIT Hyderabad; Balraj Subramaniam, Chairman of the Organising Committee of BAJA SAEINDIA and Saurabh Chitnavis, Joint Convener of aBAJA SAEINDIA 2024.

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  - Dr Kamal Vora October 06, 2024 06:55 AM

  Autonomous BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 is a great initiative of SAEINDIA and I would like to congratulate BAJA Committee members, ARAI, Ajeenkya DY Patil University and all the sponsors & supporters for this initiative. The registration of BAJA SAEINDIA 2024 with early bird incentive starts on 6th Oct 2024 from 8 to 10 pm. For sponsorship or registration, please contact vorakc04@gmail.com

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Technology firm AUMOVIO and adhesive manufacturer tesa have entered a partnership to introduce a new mechanical integration solution for automotive displays.

The collaboration focuses on a robotic bonding process that allows for debonding-on-demand, a feature designed to facilitate repairs and recycling throughout a vehicle's life cycle.

The system utilises a 2 mm wide adhesive tape that is applied robotically, providing an immediate load-bearing bond without curing time. This narrow profile enables the manufacturing of ultra-thin display bezels similar to those found in smartphones.

Unlike traditional permanent adhesives, this bond can be selectively detached with minimal effort, allowing individual display components to be replaced or reworked during production or service without discarding the entire module.

The technology is engineered to compensate for material expansion across automotive temperature ranges while supporting circular economy principles. By enabling the recovery of valuable components at the end of a vehicle's service life, the solution aligns with AUMOVIO’s sustainability strategy. The partners are currently preparing to integrate this process into volume production during the second quarter of 2026.

Pavel Prouza, Head of the User Experience (UX) Business Area at AUMOVIO, said, “The combination of highly precise, automated application and targeted detachability adds an important element to our manufacturing and quality processes. It strengthens the robustness of our production, reduces material waste, and promotes efficient use of valuable components. For the end customer, this could even mean that future repairs may require replacing only the affected individual components in a cost-effective way.”

David Caro, Head of Automotive, tesa, said, “This partnership demonstrates how innovative materials technology is advancing the mobility of tomorrow. Together with AUMOVIO, we offer automated adhesive bonds that not only provide long-term durability but can also be deliberately debonded – enabling efficient production, longer product life cycles, and circular product concepts. This helps our customers translate their sustainability goals into tangible product solutions.”

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China’s WeRide has announced that at the Wuhu round of the Second China Urban Intelligent Driving Competition, the Chery Exeed Sterra ET, powered by the WeRide WRD 3.0 (jointly developed with Bosch), claimed first place with a lead of over 10 points.

As the first publicly traded Robotaxi company, WeRide operates in over 40 cities across 12 countries. It holds autonomous driving permits in eight major markets, including the UAE, Singapore and the US, providing L2 to L4 solutions across the mobility, logistics and sanitation sectors.

This win marks the first time in the competition's history that a single solution has achieved four consecutive championships, following previous victories in Taizhou, Wenzhou and Jinhua.

The WRD 3.0 system utilises a one-stage end-to-end ADAS solution designed to handle complex urban environments. Its performance is driven by two key internal technologies:

• GENESIS Simulation World Model: A proprietary platform that uses generative AI to reproduce rare ‘long-tail’ scenarios, bridging the gap between virtual training and real-world application.
• L4 Driverless Data Integration: The system leverages large-scale data from WeRide's fully driverless operations to refine perception and planning in dense traffic, such as street markets and mixed-use urban roads.

WeRide has transitioned WRD 3.0 from an algorithmic concept to a production-ready system, achieving hardware-software decoupling that allows it to run on different computing tiers.

With the launch of the Aion N60, WeRide has become the first autonomous driving provider to achieve mass production of one-stage end-to-end technology on both Nvidia Drive and Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms.

While strengthening its presence in China with brands like GAC Trumpchi and Hyptec, WeRide is expanding its international footprint. Through partnerships with Tiggo, Omoda and JAECOO, the company aims to export its intelligent driving solutions to global markets.

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South Korea-based Stradvision, a company specialising in AI-based vision perception technology, has been selected by a global commercial vehicle manufacturer to deploy its SVNet software across its Indian vehicle lineup.

The programme focuses on fleet-scale deployment of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in a market where perception software must balance technical reliability with cost-efficiency.

The company stated that the Indian commercial vehicle sector requires ADAS solutions capable of operating on resource-constrained hardware while maintaining performance in high-density traffic.

SVNet is engineered to detect and classify objects in mixed-traffic environments, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers and pedestrians. This software architecture allows the OEM to implement functions such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning and lane departure warning across various models using a single software stack.

The deployment is structured to allow the manufacturer to standardise its perception platform while adjusting for model-specific hardware.

Till date, Stradvision has deployed approximately 5 million units of SVNet globally, providing the production maturity required for high-volume commercial vehicle programmes. This project indicates a shift in the automotive industry towards perception solutions that prioritises scalability and operational efficiency across diverse market conditions.

Philip Vidal, CBO, Stradvision, said, "India's commercial vehicle segment is one of the most consequential ADAS markets opening right now. The scale of the fleet, the complexity of the traffic environment, and the cost requirements make it a genuine test of whether perception software can perform where it matters most. SVNet was built for exactly this kind of deployment, and this program is a strong validation of that."

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Einride AB, the freight technology company, has appointed General (Ret.) Keith B. Alexander to its Board of Directors. The appointment coincides with the formal establishment of a dedicated defence business aimed at providing autonomous driving capabilities to military organisations globally.

General Alexander, a current member of the Amazon Board of Directors, previously served as the Director of the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) and was the Founding Commander of the U.S. Cyber Command.

The move into the defence sector follows the completion of autonomous pilot contracts with a European NATO-allied organisation. Einride intends to utilise its vehicle-agnostic autonomous system, the Einride Driver, which can be integrated into new vehicle platforms or retrofitted onto existing fleets.

This technology licensing model operates alongside the company’s Freight-Capacity-as-a-Service offering, which manages electric heavy-duty fleets through AI optimisation software and charging infrastructure.

The company currently operates in the U.S., Europe and the Middle East, serving more than 30 enterprise customers. Einride reports approximately USD 92 million in expected annual recurring revenue from signed contracts. The firm is also progressing toward a public listing through a proposed business combination with Legato Merger Corp. III, expected to conclude during the first half of 2026.

General Keith B. Alexander, said, "Autonomous systems operating in defence environments face a distinct threat landscape, where adversaries probe for vulnerabilities in communication, navigation, and control. What brought me to Einride is its strong operational foundation, proven safety record and real operational experience. My role is helping ensure Einride's systems meet the standards required by NATO-allied and U.S. defence organisations and scale from pilots to full programs."

Robert Falck, Chairman of Einride's Board of Directors, said, "General Alexander has spent decades operating at the intersection of technology, security, and high-stakes decision-making. As Einride continues to expand its offering to the defence sectors, his knowledge and experiences are exactly what we need in the boardroom."

Roozbeh Charli, CEO, Einride, added, “Having validated our technology in a defence context, we're now moving with intent: recruiting specialised talent, developing defence-specific expertise, and bringing in leadership with deep domain knowledge. Appointing General Alexander to our Board of Directors is one concrete example of that, his experience directly strengthening our strategic direction in this space.”

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