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The advent of electric vehicles represents a significant step in technological innovation, particularly within the scope of digital technology. These vehicles, powered by electrical systems, have redefined the perception of transportation. They are not merely standards to travel from point A to point B but an amalgamation of digital technology and sustainable mobility.
The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is spearheading the development of the Micro Electric Vehicle-Teleoperated Driving System (MEVi-TDS), a micro-sized electric vehicle prototype enabling remote control via WiFi networks. This prototype embodies a concept in the evolution of electric vehicles.
It marks pushing beyond conventional limits. MEVi-TDS represents a revolutionary step in electric vehicle development, not just in its single-passenger physical dimensions but also in its cutting-edge approach to fostering digital connectivity.
According to Bambang Wahono, a Senior Researcher at the Centre for Smart Mechatronics Research at BRIN, the research is ongoing with the goal of navigating zigzag obstacles on roads this year. In facing zigzag obstacles on the road, the speed of decision-making by the system becomes crucial to ensure the safety of passengers and the vehicle.
Bambang explained that their technology involves various sensors such as stereoscopic cameras, ultrasonics, and 2D LIDAR to detect obstacles in front of the vehicle, “We use the top camera technology to have a forward view, while GPS is used for positioning. Additionally, radar installation is planned for 2023,” Bambang asserted.
The current research is focused on gathering data through sensors such as cameras, LIDAR 2D, ultrasonics, and GPS. Furthermore, there is programming of control systems for data processing and decision-making, machine learning model training for decision-making, control system testing in real environments, control system improvements, and machine learning model training based on test results.
Bambang envisioned that the MEVi-TDS research could become a solution for future transportation in Indonesia. “If this technology is widely adopted, it will reduce congestion by using teleoperation systems as an interim solution before fully autonomous electric vehicles are produced,” he further elaborates.
Bambang underscored that autonomous electric cars represent the commitment of Indonesia to utilising digital technology for modern transportation development. The fundamental concept entails a vehicle that can not only move independently but also execute the entire range of driving tasks performed by humans.
Autonomous electric cars not only facilitate ease in setting destinations. Moreover, they are imbued with automation systems that enable operation without human intervention. This has broad implications for designing a safer, more efficient, and integrated driving experience.
The research is about directly confronting obstacles and building a system that can learn from every experience. Through machine learning model training, the research team strives to optimise the capabilities of MEVi-TDS to make increasingly precise and adaptive decisions in various road situations.
MEVi-TDS is the result of joint research from several research centres under BRIN’s umbrella, including the Centre for Data and Information Science Research, the Centre for Smart Mechatronics Research, the Telecommunications Research Centre, and the Transportation Technology Research Centre.