ABout rbg labs
The Rehabilitation Bioengineering Group (RBG Labs) was established in 2006 at the Department of Engineering Design, IIT Madras, under the leadership of Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian. The lab applies a data-driven systems approach across road safety in India, human factors engineering, driver behavior analysis, lean manufacturing, and transport policy support. Over the years, it has grown into a national reference center for evidence-based innovation and capacity building in transport and safety systems.
In collaboration with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), RBG Labs developed the electronic Detailed Accident Report (eDAR/iRAD), India’s first national crash database, now deployed across all 36 States and Union Territories. The lab also anchors the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS), integrating research in human factors, road engineering, and vehicle safety to strengthen systemic outcomes.
Every Test Counts,Every Life Matters
ZAD in Action
RBG Labs focuses on human factors to understand behaviour through objective assessments and data-driven research. The lab aims to develop innovative products and solutions that address human physical and cognitive constraints by designing systems, tools, and interventions that enhance safety, comfort, and efficiency.
To achieve the Nation’s vision in road safety, Transportation Safety Framework (TSF), an empathy-based systems approach, was adopted by RBG Labs, IIT Madras as a data-driven comprehensive roadmap. Adopting this framework, several products and Government initiatives were conceptualized such as
Built as a collaborative, empathy-based model, Transportation Safety Framework (TSF), integrates data-driven gap analysis, research, development of tools/ products/ processes and capacity building to achieve our collective goal of Zero road fatalities. A co-creation ecosystem is designed at the trijunction of Government, Industry and Academia to design evidence-based actionable solutions.
Key Innovations & Impact
Pioneering systemic change across road safety, trauma care, biomedical engineering, and data-driven governance.
Suzhal Management System (SMS) & RBG Innovation Paradigm (RIP)
Suzhal Management System (SMS) and RBG Innovation Paradigm (RIP), has been used as demonstrative methodology for bringing about systemic changes and disruptive innovation across various industries. Some of the key process innovations have brought about substantive improvement in productivity and technological upgrading across various sectors.
iRAD (eDAR) – India’s National Crash Database
Developed an integrated road accident database, initially as Transportation Accident Reporting Application (TARA) in TN, which was subsequently adopted by MoRTH, GoI as iRAD (renamed as eDAR). This National database had been deployed across all the Districts of all the States and UT within 18 months of initiating the program in 2020.
TAEI (Tamil Nadu) & MAEI (Rajasthan)
Conceptualized and helped implement a comprehensive trauma care system based on SMS and lean operations in Tamil Nadu as Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI). This system was replicated successfully in Rajasthan as Mukhyamantri Accident and Emergency care Initiative (MAEI).
Nallam Kappom 48 hrs (NK48)
A framework to ensure emergency care (lifesaving critical diagnosis and interventions) to all was advocated for the first 48 hours after an accident. This was introduced in Tamil Nadu and subsequently being implemented in Rajasthan and across India.
Intelliseat™
Developed and commercialized India’s first IoT-based non-vision driver behaviour, performance and fatigue monitoring device, Intelliseat™. Won Auto Component of the Year 2018 award.
SynkroScaff™
Developed and commercialized India’s first bioprosthetic scaffold material to be used in various cardiac and plastic surgeries. This is commercially sold as SynkroScaff by a start-up.
Shira Clamp
Developed and commercialized a microvascular clamp that can reduce the skill required to perform micro-vascular and plastic surgeries. This is commercially sold as Shira Clamp by Start-up.
Data-Driven Hyperlocal Interventions (DDHI)
Data-Driven Hyper local Interventions (DDHI), a targeted road safety strategy tailored to local conditions, and assist the district road safety council for planning and implementing interventions.
Zero Accident Day (ZAD) Campaigns
Zero Accident Day (ZAD) Campaigns, a community-level initiative that uses behavioural nudges to promote safer road practices at the grassroots.
Sanjaya Platform
Comprehensive road safety stack – Sanjaya. Location intelligence platform for visualizing road crashes in India, insights on crash patterns and assist policy makers for data-driven decision making.
SynkroScaff™
Developed and commercialized India’s first bioprosthetic scaffold material to be used in various cardiac and plastic surgeries. This is commercially sold as SynkroScaff by a start-up.
Shira Clamp
Developed and commercialized a microvascular clamp that can reduce the skill required to perform micro-vascular and plastic surgeries. This is commercially sold as Shira Clamp by Start-up.