Engineers at NED University of Engineering and Technology have successfully tested Pakistan’s first artificial intelligence enabled driverless car, marking a new chapter for locally developed autonomous vehicle technology. The vehicle was seen operating smoothly on internal university roads during the test demonstration, drawing attention from students, faculty and visitors who witnessed the car navigating without human input. The project, which has been nearly a year in development, began at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence housed within the Department of Computer and Information Sciences. A China imported electric vehicle served as the base model, which the engineering team converted into a fully autonomous prototype through a combination of AI systems, robotics, mapping tools and a suite of advanced sensor and vision algorithms designed to interpret real world driving environments.
The engineering team has spent months refining the design to ensure safe movement in varied conditions, with National Centre for Artificial Intelligence Director Dr Muhammad Khurram confirming during the demonstration that the project has now reached a mature stage suitable for controlled road trials. He explained that radar systems and computer vision models have enabled reliable steering control, while the team continues to work on improving capabilities for object identification, lane recognition, traffic sign interpretation and speed limit detection. The vehicle currently operates at a speed range of fifteen to twenty kilometres per hour as engineers focus on stability, accuracy and sensor coordination. Dr Khurram added that each component of the system is being tested with careful calibration to ensure that the vehicle responds safely to dynamic roadside environments and maintains proper judgement when other vehicles approach.
Team member Inzamam Khan highlighted that the autonomous car is among a limited group of research vehicles globally designed to operate in relatively uncontrolled and highly unpredictable urban environments like those commonly found in Pakistan. He noted that the team has built a strong sensor framework capable of handling uneven surfaces, potholes and local infrastructure variations that often challenge traditional autonomous systems. High resolution sensor arrays integrated with AI based decision making allow the car to maintain situational awareness and make continuous adjustments to its route and speed. Khan said that one of the main goals of the project is to ensure that the system remains safe even when external factors such as surface quality, irregular traffic flow or visual obstructions complicate the navigation process.
The initiative began under former NED vice chancellor Dr Saroosh Hashmat Lodhi, who supported early research and system design efforts, and has since progressed to its current milestone under Vice Chancellor Dr Tufail Ahmed. University officials stated that the achievement demonstrates the capability of local engineering talent and underscores the role of academic research facilities in advancing applied artificial intelligence technologies within Pakistan. The success of the initial road tests shows the potential for further development in autonomous mobility, allowing future iterations to integrate more advanced decision support, enhanced mapping systems and improved multi sensor fusion. The project stands as a significant indicator of how local institutions can contribute to technological advancement, paving the way for broader research in intelligent transportation systems across the country.
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