Continental, IIT Madras allies for safe mobility solutions

Code-named Project NeuroMotive, the partnership focuses on advanced research in Machine Learning and Neural Networks for technologies that aid partially automated driving

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Automotive technology giant Continental has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology Madras for Advanced Research in Machine Learning. To take forward this partnership, Continental and IIT Madras have singed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

IIT Madras, which has capability in machine learning and bio-inspired neural networks, will contribute to Continental’s Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) business that provide drivers and passengers with additional safety and an increase in comfort.

The collaboration, code-named Project NeuroMotive, will support Continental’s long-term strategy globally towards “Vi- sion Zero” – a future with zero accidents – through innovations and ongoing improvement of components and systems making a decisive contribution to greater road safety.

Prashanth Doreswamy, Market Head of Continental India and Managing Director Continental Automotive, India, said, “Project NeuroMotive is only a first step in our collaboration with IIT Madras. Continental will continue to invest in the technologies of tomorrow. As a technology company, we focus on making future mobility concepts a reality.”

According to Alexander Klotz, Head of Technical Center India (TCI), a Continental’s in-house R&D center,  “An R&D Center like Continental’s TCI is constantly exploring ways of improving its innovation potential. At Continental, Artificial Intelligence.Already plays a key role in areas ranging from software to manufacturing, and TCI has in turn focused on developing this competency in-house at Bangalore, to support global projects in the areas of safety and connectivity. It is our aim to further grow local competence in AI, not just through hiring, but also by leveraging the ecosystem through relevant partnerships.”

Ravindra Gettu, Dean (Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research), IIT Madras, said, “IIT Madras’ expertise in bio-inspired neural networks can help expand the scope of what assisted driving functions can accomplish. Bio-inspired neural networks are becoming increasingly important for industries and businesses. They help to solve problems based on the biological knowledge of how human brain learns and processes information.”

Praveen Kumar, Head of Engineering, Business Unit ADAS (India) Continental Automo- tive, said, “ADAS systems are the backbone for automated driving. These systems assist the driver both in everyday situations, and, are available in dangerous situations, when they warn the driver and even intervene in driving when necessary. We need fail-safe architecture that, in the event of a potential malfunction, keeps the vehicle in a safe operating state. This is why Continental already uses AI to support different aspects of assisted and automated driving. Deep Learning based methods outperform classic methods with respect to performance.”