NIT Rourkela Researchers Patent AI Model to Boost Road Safety

ROURKELA : Researchers at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Rourkela have secured a patent for an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) model designed to enhance vehicle-to-vehicle communication and improve road safety in India and beyond.

The patented technology—titled “Adaptive Contention Window Optimisation in VANETs using Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning for Enhanced Performance Model”—was developed by Dr. Arun Kumar (Assistant Professor), Prof. Bibhudatta Sahoo (Professor), and Dr. Lopamudra Hota (Research Graduate) of the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at NIT Rourkela.

The model addresses a critical challenge in Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs), which enable vehicles in close proximity to communicate directly with each other to share real-time information. Such networks are envisioned to power future autonomous vehicles and smart city traffic systems, enabling applications like electronic brake lights, real-time traffic updates, platooning, emergency alerts, and on-the-road services.

Tackling Communication Overload

In VANETs, multiple vehicles may attempt to broadcast messages simultaneously, creating congestion that delays or disrupts vital signals. The NIT Rourkela team’s AI-driven model uses multi-agent deep reinforcement learning to adaptively sequence vehicle communications. This allows each vehicle to learn and stagger message timings based on surrounding activity, ensuring priority alerts are transmitted without delay—a key factor in preventing accidents.

“In 2023, India reported around 480,000 road accidents and approximately 172,000 deaths, many of which could have been avoided through timely communication,” said Dr. Arun Kumar. “Our work is a step towards building safer roads and smarter cities. We envision a near future where autonomous vehicles become a reality in India, and this patent is a small step in that direction, driving the spirit of Innovate in India and Make in India.”

Towards Safer, Smarter Mobility

The patented system ensures that time-sensitive messages reach the right vehicle at the right time, even in high-traffic conditions. Potential applications include:

• Electronic Brake Lights: Alerting drivers to sudden braking by vehicles ahead, even when out of sight.
• Platooning: Allowing vehicles to safely follow a lead car using shared acceleration and steering data.
• Traffic & Emergency Updates: Delivering instant information about road conditions and hazards.
• On-Road Services: Enabling geolocation-based services such as electronic toll collection, mobile payments, and restaurant suggestions.

“This patent represents a practical step towards preparing India’s road system for vehicle-to-vehicle communication,” said Prof. Bibhudatta Sahoo. “By addressing potential congestion in VANETs and enabling adaptive, coordinated messaging, our findings lay the groundwork for safer and more efficient traffic management. We invite researchers across institutions to collaborate with our lab in advancing autonomous vehicle technologies.”

About NIT Rourkela

The National Institute of Technology Rourkela is one of India’s premier engineering and research institutions, dedicated to advancing technological innovation and contributing to the country’s development in key areas such as AI, transportation, and smart infrastructure.