‘Garuda’ Electric Superbike: Indian Students Unveil AI-Driven Driverless Prototype

Utilising the power of artificial intelligence, students from Surat, Gujarat, have developed an electric motorcycle that can drive autonomously without a driver. Three mechanical engineering students developed a prototype called 'Garuda,' described as India's first AI-powered driverless electric superbike. Remarkably, this bike is made from approximately 50 percent scrap and recycled materials, a remarkable example of 'waste-to-best' engineering.

The students behind the project 'Garuda' include Shivam Maurya, Gurpreet Arora, and Ganesh Patil. The three students are from Bhagwan Mahavir University in the city of Surat. The students took a year to come up with the project after they were inspired by Tesla’s autonomous technology. The project cost the students a total of ₹1.8 lakh.

The neural network portion of ‘Garuda’ consists of a Raspberry Pi module which acts as the Central Processing Unit for the bike. This small but powerful computer is capable of recognizing and carrying out voice commands over Wi-Fi. During the demo at the showcase event, the bike was seen to change its speed and react immediately to voice commands such as ‘stop.’ The motorcycle can operate in three modes: manual, mobile phone-controlled, and fully autonomous.

In terms of design, 'Garuda' is no less than a concept bike. It features hubless wheels, giving it a highly futuristic look. Despite being made from scrap, this prototype incorporates premium features typically found only in expensive electric vehicles. The bike features a full touchscreen dashboard with GPS navigation, front and rear cameras for live traffic, and wireless mobile charging.

AI also plays a key role in this bike's safety system. High-range sensors constantly monitor the surrounding environment and detect any obstacles. Garuda features a two-stage safety protocol. If a vehicle or object approaches within 12 feet, the bike automatically slows down. However, if an obstacle approaches within three feet, the system automatically activates braking without any human intervention, bringing the bike to a complete stop.

Garuda's performance is also unmatched by any commercial electric bike. Equipped with a lightweight lithium-ion battery, this motorcycle boasts a range of 220 kilometers in Eco mode and 160 kilometers in Sport mode. This figure is significantly higher than most electric bikes and scooters currently available in the market. Surprisingly, its battery fully charges in just two hours.

Given its advanced AI features, innovative safety system, and futuristic design, the potential for commercial production of a motorcycle like Garuda appears strong. While it's still a prototype, the project certainly indicates that young engineers in India are capable of shaping the future of mobility despite limited resources.