Indian start-up launches vision-based ADAS solution for CVs

Bangalore-based start-up Netradyne, which works in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) and IoT systems, has announced the launch of its Artificial Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) solutions system for Indian roads under its Driveri platform. The company is targeting the commercial vehicle segment first.

The ‘Driveri’ platform utilises a four-camera, vision-based system mounted on the vehicle windscreen which helps fleet managers recognise positive driver performance and enhance driver safety for commercial vehicle operations. Netradyne claims it is the first company to launch a vision-based ADAS solution specifically designed for Indian road conditions.

The company says that studies have pointed out that inattention within three seconds of an event is a major cause of accidents. In fact, this inattention has been shown to have led to over 2,000 fatalities in a report shared by the government of India in 2015.

The Driveri (ADAS) platform provides real-time audio alerts to the driver in a vehicle when a collision is imminent. This helps the driver to gauge and take preventive action before any accident occurs. In addition, it also monitors and alerts the driver for drowsiness or inattention, conditions that can potentially lead to a collision resulting in major loss of life and property.

Avneesh Agarwal, founder and CEO, Netradyne, says: “India has a very poor road safety record with over 400,000 road accidents recorded last year. ADAS solutions specifically customised for  Indian road and driving conditions are the need of the hour and will play a significant role in making our roads safer. We believe that Driveri will immensely benefit the commercial vehicle segment in India. With the ADAS solution customised for the market, we are able to provide valuable insights to commercial fleet operators on their most prized assets: drivers and fleet.”

The Driveri platform consists of multiple features that are designed to assist drivers. Netradyne says many of these features are already being adopted across global markets and India is also catching up to the global standards of safety. Rising global awareness of technological advancements has led to an upsurge in consumer demand for such innovative technologies which are capable of enhancing safety standards. In addition to accident prevention, the solution also helps educate and improve driver behaviour and habits through regular feedback and monitoring.

The system is equipped with Quad-HD cameras that provide a view of the road similar to the driver's perspective. The device uses Nvidia’s Jetson TX1 TeraFlop processor, which is capable of one trillion calculations per second. Using Netradyne’s proprietary deep learning algorithms for video processing and Nvidia’s cutting-edge hardware, Driveri can provide real time safety assistance to drivers and help avoid accidents.

“With GPU computing, Netradyne's ADAS solution will enable vehicles to perform extremely complex sensor fusion with a four-camera, vision-based system - leading to more accuracy and substantially reducing missed detections and false alarms,” says Vishal Dhupar, MD, Nvidia – South Asia.

In addition to ADAS, the platform also provides the fleet managers with a comprehensive view of their driver’s activity through a blend of positive driving notifications and best practice identification in real-time. This helps fleet managers in providing proper guidance and coaching opportunities to the driver.