Karachi Gears Up for Its First AI-Powered Driverless Car

KARACHI: Karachi has taken a giant leap ahead in technological innovation with the launch of its autonomous vehicle assembly line, powered by artificial intelligence (AI).

A virtual driving system has already been launched as part of the project, and efforts are currently underway to bring these AI-driven automobiles to the streets.

Project leadership has been provided by the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) at NED University of Engineering and Technology.

Pakistan’s First AI-Powered Autonomous Vehicle

Since no other autonomous vehicle projects using artificial intelligence are presently active in Pakistan, the engineers working on the project have asserted that it is the country’s first of its kind.

We anticipate that within the next six months, students at NED University will be able to take test drives in an autonomous vehicle, making them the first Pakistani university to do so.

As part of this big project, a special electronic car from China was brought in and is now being changed with AI tools so that it can drive itself.

“We are close to achieving real-time vehicle control,” commented Project Director and Associate Professor Dr. Mohammad Khurram in an exclusive interview.

We are sure that we will be able to drive this car on NED’s roads within the next six months, as our engineers have made great progress in data control and software development.

AI and Robotics Driving the Innovation

Inzamam and Aleema, two research students working on the project, revealed that AI and robotics techniques are being implemented to enhance the vehicle’s capabilities. The mapping of the car is complete, and AI algorithms are successfully managing critical functions such as:

• Object detection
• Lane identification
• Speed regulation
• Traffic signal recognition

The development team is rigorously testing these features in simulated driving environments to refine the car’s ability to handle steering, recognize traffic signals, and navigate safely in real-world conditions.

The federal government has established nine centers to support research and development in artificial intelligence technology. One of these centers is the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence at NED University.

This endeavor will likely profoundly affect the future of autonomous vehicles in Pakistan, which signifies a major step forward in Pakistan’s technical development.