While ADAS adoption in India is poised for substantial growth, success hinges on navigating unique challenges and leveraging local insights to tailor solutions effectively.
14 Jul 2024 | 12226 Views | By Mohan Savarkar, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles
India’s automotive sector is witnessing rapid advancements, with the adoption of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) being a significant milestone. As the country grapples with unique driving conditions and diverse road infrastructure, the implementation of ADAS technology necessitates a nuanced approach to ensure both effectiveness and safety.
One should ...
This is an Autocar Pro Plus article. Subscribe to continue reading.
India’s automotive sector is witnessing rapid advancements, with the adoption of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) being a significant milestone. As the country grapples with unique driving conditions and diverse road infrastructure, the implementation of ADAS technology necessitates a nuanced approach to ensure both effectiveness and safety.
One should generally look at ADAS as a set of interconnected systems that can SENSE-THINK-ACT as a human to reduce the accident risks of drivers (Level 0 to 2) or to provide occupants free time to pursue other more pleasant activities (Level 3 and above).
The Growth of ADAS in India
The Indian ADAS market is poised for substantial growth, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 18.80% from 2023 to 2032. The market size, valued at USD 1.24 billion in 2022, is expected to surge to USD 9.98 billion by 2032. This growth is fuelled by increased vehicle production incorporating ADAS features, heightened awareness about passenger safety, and stringent government regulations.
Semiconductors: The Backbone of ADAS
Semiconductors are crucial to the development of ADAS. They enable modern vehicles to leverage microcontrollers that oversee a wide array of tasks, from executing commands to analysing sensor data. As vehicles ascend through autonomy levels the demand for computational power, data processing capabilities, and speed increases exponentially. This necessitates the use of high- performance computing systems (HPCs) and specialized silicon chips, which are instrumental in handling the complexities of real-time data processing and decision-making required for autonomous driving.
Autonomous vehicles are categorized into different levels based on their capabilities. Levels 0 to 2 (entry) can use standard chips, but vehicles at Level 2 (advanced) will need specialised chip as they are more efficient, facilitating rapid performance enhancements within vehicle systems and enabling
the execution of complex software functionalities and analytics. This capability includes advanced sensor fusion involving cameras, laser, LiDAR, and other devices critical for enhancing the vehicle's perception and decision-making abilities.
ADAS sensors like cameras, LIDARs, radars, ultrasonic, and motion detectors can generate a massive amount of data—up to 40 gigabits per second. To put that in perspective, storing this data in its raw form would need over 120+ terabytes of storage in less than 8 hours. This data is then processed via high performance computers (HPC) to assess perception of risk, decide appropriate actions and
trigger adequate response (Warning, Evasive action). Usually, the processing power is several times greater than what's needed for commercial airplanes.
ADAS not only demands high-speed processing but also storage capabilities that far exceed those of typical commercial aircrafts. Furthermore, high performing computers (HPC) need qualities like ruggedization, faster cooling and
data bandwidth to process these data and show advance GUIs in real time.
This data is often stored at full resolution to perform in-vehicle, real-time operations (AI inference or reinforcement training) or offline AI training or simulations in large lab workstations to mature machine learning.
Adoption and Impact on Safety
India has seen a swift adoption of ADAS, driven by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs). The transition from Level 1 to Level 2 ADAS occurred in just four years. With features like Lane Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Autonomous Emergency Braking, ADAS has the potential to significantly reduce accidents. European data suggests that widespread ADAS deployment could cut accidents by up to 40% and fatalities by 29%
Challenges from the development perspective
- As the challenges and expectations for ADAS continue to grow and we move towards higher levels of autonomy, the ADAS development process will need to evolve to have a higher degree of synergy between design and testing efforts requiring periodic validations and consuming significant time.
- Connected tools, common platforms, data sharing, and a closed-loop development process will reduce the ADAS development time. New sensors, test methodologies and development processes will expand ADAS features into new domains of capability with reduced development timelines to support the rapid adoption of autonomous vehicles
Challenges in the Indian Context
Implementing ADAS in India comes with its own set of challenges:
1. Developing Road Infrastructure: Broken roads, signage, and markings, which are critical for ADAS functionality are work in progress. ADAS deployed in India has to provide work around for these situations.
2. Driver Behaviour: Indian driving habits have their own special traits. ADAS deployed in India needs to provide work around with the same.
3. Cost and Affordability: ADAS technologies are relatively expensive, making affordability a key concern in the price-sensitive Indian market. Balancing safety benefits with cost- effectiveness is crucial.
4. Customization for Indian Conditions: ADAS solutions must be tailored to address India’s unique traffic patterns, infrastructure challenges, and environmental factors.
For instance, Tata Motors has refined its ADAS algorithms to better handle the unpredictability of Indian roads.
The Future of ADAS in India
The future of ADAS in India looks promising. Convenience features like Rear ADAS and Adaptive Cruise Control are effective on Indian highways, while safety features such as Forward Collision
Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking have been fine-tuned for Indian conditions. The global market is also seeing significant growth in Level 2 and Level 2+ vehicles, with automakers actively developing Level 2+ solutions for commercial availability.
Going forward these levels will be further bifurcated to Level 2 Driving and Level 2 Parking where features like APA (Auto park assist), highway pilot, city pilot and relevant autonomous features will play a pivotal role in shaping the dynamics of the passenger vehicle industry.
Conclusion
India is on a trajectory toward relevant autonomous vehicles, marked by significant strides in ADAS technology. However, achieving this vision necessitates concerted efforts to address infrastructure challenges, enhance driver education, and customize technologies for local needs. The potential benefits in terms of safety and efficiency underscore the importance of this endeavour, promising a
safer and smarter driving experience for all.
In conclusion, while ADAS adoption in India is poised for substantial growth, success hinges on navigating unique challenges and leveraging local insights to tailor solutions effectively. Embracing ADAS not only enhances road safety but also position India at the forefront of automotive innovation tailored to its distinctive driving landscape.
Mohan Savarkar is the Chief Product Officer, Tata Motors Passenger Vehicles Limited. Views expressed are his own.