HL Mando ANAND India Private Limited is a renowned manufacturer and supplier of high-performance braking systems, shock absorbers, and struts for Indian, European, and American OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). Their manufacturing practices have been aligned with the strict guidelines established by HL Mando, Korea. They constantly aim to create and innovate goods that improve vehicle safety and comfort while driving. For automobiles and sport utility vehicles, they are one of the largest manufacturers of advanced hydraulic brakes, shock absorbers, and struts. Their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility has the latest CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines and special-purpose equipment. They have attained the highest productivity and manufacturing excellence combined with lean manufacturing systems.
HL Mando is a global leader specialising in core components that are key to vehicle safety. Under its CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), SNS Foundation (SNSF), Mando Automotive India addresses four development verticals: Education, Health and Hygiene, Skill Development and Community Conservation. SNS Foundation is engaged with several partner organisations, which include corporations, civil society, Government, and aid agencies.
1.1. Capacity Building and Quality Standards for Driver Training
The Training of Drivers (TOD) program is designed to unlearn unsafe driving practices, relearn the best driving practices, and retain the rules to become skilled defensive drivers. The program successfully trained 2009 drivers in four districts in Tamil Nadu, with a primary focus on the Chennai district.
The pivotal point in initiating the training program with school and college bus drivers is their proximity to NextGen’s potential drivers. At an impressionable age, “Seeing can be Learning!” seeing their drivers follow the rules and drive responsibly allows young minds to learn the right things and prepares them to be safety-centric rather than thrill-seeking drivers.
The training program objectives:
Ø Incorporation of safe driving behaviour.
Ø Implementation of avoiding unintentional wrong driving behaviours on the road.
Ø School and college bus drivers need to attain a road safety-centric attitude.
Ø Drivers’ knowledge should be evaluated, and self-assessment should be performed on road rules and regulations, road signs and signals, and challenges on the road.
A National Scientific Road Safety Conclave (NSRSC) was conducted on October 11, 2022. As a part of this social vision, a pilot program of 3GL (3 Gate Licensing System) was designed by CoERS, IITM. 3GL is an improved licensing process that compels new license takers to understand road regulations and adhere
to road rules while driving. Effective training can be made possible using ‘Theory to Simulator’ based Training of Drivers (TOD) programmes conducted by CoERS.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS) and HL Mando SNS Foundation, Part of its CSR, to facilitate the implementation of the Training of Drivers program in Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Tiruvallur, and Tiruvannamalai, to train school bus drivers. The MoU was signed by Prof. Manu Santhanam, Dean ICSR, IIT Madras and Mr Seshadri Sarathi, Joint Managing Director, HL Mando, in the presence of Prof. Venkatesh Balasubramanian, Head, CoERS, IIT Madras.
1.2. Hackathon – Development of Ecosystem
CoERS, IIT Madras, launched a Hackathon to develop India-specific Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) on March 31st, 2023. Hackathon 2023 aimed at developing India-specific Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) solutions, supported by HL Mando Anand India Limited (HL MAIL) as part of its CSR activities and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). It began in March 2023 with 47 teams as initial participants. After multiple rounds of evaluation by academia and industry experts, six teams reached the finale.
In the prelude to the finale, conducted on 1 December 2023, each team provided a working demonstration of their prototypes and a presentation for the jury.
The award ceremony was graced by Professor V Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras.
The finalists and their prototypes were:
Ø -Smart Helmet for Riders Safety by Team Mukut from Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune.
Ø -Real-Time Lane Departure Warning System by Team Safety Sentinels from IIT Roorkee.
Ø -Innovative Safety Measures for Hilly Regions by Team Zita from Kongu Engineering College, Perundurai.
Ø -Bike Safety Enhancement System by Team Safety Guardians from Chalapathi Institute of Technology, IIIT Nuzvid, and IIT Bombay.
Ø -Vision Smart ADAS by Team Vision from Sairam Institutions, Chennai.
Ø -Assistance for First Responders by Team Tons of Tech from Prince Shri Venkateshwara Engineering College.
The top three Hackathon winners were chosen and awarded.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Centre of Excellence for Road Safety (CoERS) and HL Mando Anand India Private Limited on May 26, 2023, in the presence of delegates from HL Mando Automotive India Private Limited and IIT Madras, intending to develop new products and processes to improve road safety. The delegates discussed engaging the CoERS, IIT Madras, and HL Mando Anand India to create safer roads. This initiative will be made possible by using advanced automotive technology and initiatives such as advanced driver-assistance systems and electronic power steering and stability control.