Latest news with #MinusZero
Time of India
6 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Zendar wants to race in ADAS game with radar tech
At a time when companies are exploring multiple paths to compete in the ADAS space, one startup is placing a bold bet on a radar-centric system. The eight-year-old startup, Zendar , plans to transform ADAS in India with radar-focused, AI-based, and cost-effective solutions to make advanced technologies more accessible, with the goal of improving road safety. The Berkeley-based startup—founded by two technologists Vinayak Nagpal and Jimmy Wang--aims to make ADAS stack technology 10 times cheaper by using radar-centric technology—a potentially game-changing move for the Indian automotive market . 'This is a state-of-the-art AI-capable radar, which is very cheap and also fairly low-cost in terms of compute,' said Vinayak Nagpal, CEO and Co-founder of Zendar, in an interaction with ETAuto. The company's production-ready ADAS solution is built on NXP silicon technology, which is trained on Indian driving data. Zender's choice of technology is a contrast to camera-based system used by industry peer Minus Zero. Why Radar Technology? Earlier limitations of radar—such as poor scene understanding—are now being overcome. 'Today, you can achieve complete scene understanding with radar,' Nagpal said. Unlike cameras, radar is unaffected by colour, lighting, speed variations, or distance, making it a more reliable choice for India's unpredictable road conditions. Zender's ADAS architecture shifts the workload from cameras to radar, significantly reducing compute requirements. Their system handles object detection, classification, and drivable area mapping, while cameras are used primarily for lane detection and traffic lights. Challenges in ADAS tech However, adoption of ADAS technology still faces a roadblock in the Indian market. Nagpal highlights common challenges—such as collision warnings and AEB ( Automatic Emergency Braking ) frequently generating false alarms in response to speed breakers or routine traffic behaviour. Additionally, ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) struggles in mixed traffic scenarios involving pedestrians and various vehicle types, requiring frequent manual intervention. Another challenge lies in the fact that conventional ADAS systems were designed for Western highways, and thus fail to handle the chaotic nature of Indian roads. Zendar proposes an end-to-end AI-based driving system specifically trained for these conditions. Camera or Radar—Which is Better? Startups like Zendar and Minus Zero are both developing AI-enabled autonomous or ADAS solutions tailored for Indian road conditions—but they are betting on different approaches. While Zendar uses radar-first architecture, Minus Zero relies on camera-based AI systems. Unlike cameras, which may struggle with poor visibility, radar technology is seen by some as a better bet. Autonomous driving, electrification, ADAS and more AI-led technologies are paving ways to new technology frontiers creating an open ground for innovation. And startups like Zendar are trying to push the technological envelope.
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Autonomous Driving progresses, gets a few knocks too
The A of ACES (Autonomous, Connected, Shared, Electrified) global mobility megatrends stood out for its dramatic proposition of turning a car into a robot. That also explains why it attracted the maximum hype among all the megatrends. However, industry players (and more the CEOs than the CTOs in them) discover that it's an easier said than done proposition, leading to quite a few dropping their autonomous driving plans. Some pursue that ambition still, and try to make it move on the roads. A couple of Indian start-ups are also in the race. We bring you a mix of stories which also reflect the mixed performance of the evolving Autonomous Driving tech, in this week's edition of the ETAutoTech newsletter. But first, we are delighted to announce the new season of ETAuto Technology Talks, which begins with a limited 'tech yatra'. In the first episode, we visit a $1.26 billion Indian engineering major with a global presence – L&T Technology Services , which is also developing new-age mobility tech at its Bengaluru hub. It is one of the examples of India's ER&D prowess, which is increasingly shining at the global stage. ETAuto embarks on a yatra, of the tech kind! ETAuto Technology Talks kicks off a brand-new season with a Tech Yatra — and the first pit stop is the $1.26B L&T Technology Services! Join us as we dive into the world of cutting-edge mobility tech with CTO Ashish Khushu and Global Mobility Head Srinivasa Rao. From EV evolution to fostering a culture of engineering and innovation — it's all here. Watch at Minus Zero unveils vision-based autopilot built for Indian roads In a landmark development for autonomous mobility in India, Bengaluru-based startup Minus Zero has developed a vision-based self-driving system tailored for chaotic Indian traffic conditions. This AI-powered solution eliminates dependency on LiDAR, offering a cost-efficient and scalable alternative. Read more Waymo gains California approval to expand robotaxi services Alphabet's Waymo has received regulatory clearance to widen its paid robotaxi operations across the San Francisco Bay Area. The move marks a major leap forward in the commercial deployment of autonomous vehicles in the U.S. Read more robotaxi catches fire in China, no injuries reported Chinese autonomous driving company confirmed a fire incident involving one of its robotaxis. The company said the vehicle was unoccupied and no injuries occurred, but the cause is still under investigation. Read more Waymo recalls 1,200 autonomous vehicles after minor crashes Following a series of low-impact collisions, Waymo has issued a recall of 1,200 self-driving vehicles for software upgrades. This raises new questions around safety protocols and regulatory scrutiny in AV rollouts. Read more Made in India | Tech Spotlight Renesas to design India's first 3nm chips; opens R&D centres in Noida and Bengaluru Renesas Electronics is set to design India's first 3nm semiconductor chips. The Japanese firm has expanded its India footprint with two new R&D centres, reinforcing India's role in the global chip innovation race. Read more MBRDI partners Tata Elxsi for SDV and software engineering Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India has teamed up with Tata Elxsi to strengthen its software development for software-defined vehicles (SDVs), underscoring the rising importance of intelligent vehicle architecture. Read more KPIT Tech expands presence in China amid global SDV push Auto software giant KPIT Technologies is ramping up its global expansion, extending its footprint in China to serve global OEMs with localized software solutions in the autonomous and SDV domains. Read more Hyundai India rolls out digital vehicle passport for connected cars Hyundai India has introduced a vehicle digital passport, enabling real-time data tracking and ownership authentication for connected vehicles. The innovation aims to enhance transparency and vehicle lifecycle management. Read more We'd love to know what you thought of this edition! Your feedback helps us shape a better experience for our readers. Feel free to share your suggestions or comments at And, don't forget to mark 18th and 19th June on our calendars, and be part of the 6th ETAuto Tech Summit! To register, click on Thank you for reading!
The Hindu
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Deep tech startup Minus Zero unveils autopilot for India
India based Deep tech startup Minus Zero said it has unveiled an end-to-end autopilot system 'for the first time in India' enabling navigation in dense Indian urban traffic with on-coming vehicles and narrow roads with or without lane markings. 'Tested on some of the challenging streets of Bengaluru, our vision-based system can gracefully handle unique obstacles like animals, push-karts, small two-wheelers (Yulu), etc. and their unpredictable behaviours,' the startup said in a statement. To enable such features in unstructured traffic, the company said it has taken an AI-first approach by training end-to-end foundational models that can learn navigation in self-supervised manner from large scale raw data without human labels, instead of traditionally used rule-based systems. 'With the sudden explosion of ADAS (specifically L1 & L2) systems in India over the last few years, we believe it's the right time to shift to even more advanced levels like L2+, L2++ & L3,' it said. 'Today Indian consumers are ready for more technology-rich features at a marginal increase in the price point and experience the luxury, the safety and the comfort that comes with it,' it added. While there are several working L2+ & L3 systems in developed countries like Tesla's FSD, Mercedes' Drive Pilot, GM's Super Cruise, BYD's God's Eye, enabling such autopilot systems in an unstructured traffic environment like India & other emerging countries has been a very challenging task. While 90% of the ADAS products are deployed in few developed countries, 85% of road accidents of the world come from emerging countries, with much more need for such advanced driving assistance systems, the firm said. 'At Minus Zero, we understand this unique pain point and technology shift required for building advanced autopilot systems for all the major emerging countries (starting with India),' it said. Having shown India's first fully driverless vehicle for in-campus mobility, the firm said it has now embark on its next leap of journey with a full-stack autopilot system for Indian traffic. 'Our autopilot system leverages power of bespoke foundational models and self supervised learning to navigate some highly complicated scenarios (as seen in the video) using only cameras, and without reliance on HD Maps,' the firm said. 'This is also the first time when end-to-end foundational models are being tested on Indian roads,' it said. Minus Zero is already working with a couple of large OEMs in their journey to upgrade them to these solutions and is in talks with others for the same. 'While we are still developing & validating the entire system, we aim to be ready for production in the next 2 years alongside our OEM partners,' it said.
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Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Minus Zero unveils India's first AI-based end-to-end autopilot system
Autonomous mobility platform Minus Zero on Tuesday announced that it has unveiled an end-to-end autopilot system for the first time for navigation in the country. The vision-based system, which has been tested on the streets of Bengaluru, can navigate in dense urban traffic and identify unique obstacles like animals, push-carts, two-wheelers, and their unpredictable behaviours. The Bengaluru-based startup has taken an AI-first approach by training end-to-end foundational models that can learn navigation in a self-supervised manner from large-scale raw data without human labels, instead of the traditionally used rule-based systems, the company said in a statement. "Our autopilot system leverages the power of bespoke foundational models and self-supervised learning to navigate some highly complicated scenarios using only cameras, and without reliance on HD Maps. This is also the first time when end-to-end foundational models are being tested on Indian roads," the company said. While sharing the need for such a system, the company noted that although nearly 90 per cent of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) products are deployed in a few developed countries, more than 85 per cent of road accidents globally originate from emerging countries, which have a much greater need for such driving assistance systems. Commenting on the development and future plans, Gagandeep Reehal, co-founder and chief executive officer of Minus Zero, said, "We are already working with a couple of large OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) in their journey to upgrade them to these solutions and are in talks with others for the same. While we are still developing and validating the entire system, we aim to be ready for production in the next 2 years alongside our OEM partners." Minus Zero was founded in 2020 and has raised a total equity funding of $1.77 million in two rounds, according to data from market intelligence platform Tracxn.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Minus Zero develops vision-based autopilot for Indian roads
Bengaluru-based startup Minus Zero has announced the development of an end-to-end autopilot system designed for Indian traffic conditions . The company claims the system has been tested on dense urban streets of Bengaluru, navigating without the need for lane markings and managing obstacles such as animals, push-carts, and small two-wheelers. The system operates using a vision-based architecture and does not rely on HD maps or LiDAR sensors. Minus Zero uses foundational AI models trained in a self-supervised manner using large-scale raw data. Unlike rule-based systems that require manual input and precise environmental mapping, this approach allows the model to learn directly from unlabelled data and generalise to unseen roads and obstacles. The autopilot system fits under the 'Hands OFF & Eyes ON' category, with a safety driver required onboard during operation. Focus on emerging markets and scalable deployment The company sees its solution as suitable for emerging markets where traffic conditions are largely unstructured and road infrastructure varies. According to Minus Zero, while advanced systems like Tesla's FSD or Mercedes' Drive Pilot are operational in developed countries, the specific conditions in India present different challenges. Despite the majority of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) being deployed in developed regions, a significant portion of global road accidents occur in emerging countries, highlighting the need for context-specific solutions. Minus Zero said it is already collaborating with a couple of large automotive manufacturers in India and is in talks with others to integrate this technology. The company targets production readiness within two years in partnership with OEMs. Technology highlights and approach Shift in approach: The system is based on foundational AI models, moving away from supervised learning and rule-based systems. Hardware efficiency: The platform uses a vision-first approach, minimising dependency on expensive sensor suites. Mapless navigation: The system does not rely on HD maps, which are currently not widely available in India. Scalability: The AI models are trained to improve continuously, allowing the solution to adapt across different geographies and vehicle platforms. Full-stack development: Minus Zero has developed its own generative AI tools, simulation environments, and onboard software for deployment. 'After LLMs and AI agents for the digital world, next-gen foundational models for the physical world like autonomous driving, robotics, etc. are gaining momentum globally,' the company said in a media release. 'With India taking a strong stance in creating a foothold in the AI race, this area is an opportunity where we can build in India for the world.'
