What for ?
AI on the road:
Bengaluru techie’s smart helmet flags traffic violations in real time.. 06 Jan 2026
Extract :
The city’s chaotic traffic has inspired a
27-year-old techie to turn his regular helmet into a tool that sends
real time traffic violation complaints to the police.
The experiment drew attention after Pankaj
Tanwar posted images of the helmet and flagged violations on X on Saturday,
writing, “I was tired of stupid people on the road, so I hacked my helmet into a traffic police
device...”.
Though still in its nascence, the helmet monitors
traffic violations in real time and flags them to the traffic police. A Logitech
webcam fitted on the helmet captures visuals and sends them to a mini-computer installed inside
the safety gear, which runs a Python script to check for violations.
The suspected violations are then sent to larger
AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini for a second check. Once confirmed, an email with
the image, location, and timestamp is sent to the police.
Speaking to DH, Tanwar said he created it as a
fun weekend project and did not expect it to gain attention.
“I like creating small, fun projects like this.
I noticed that in my 15-minute drive to the office, I would see at least 10 to
12 such violations, putting themselves and others in danger. Later, I found out
that in Bengaluru,
citizens can report such violations to the police, who have a separate team to
check them and issue challans. So, I made this helmet, which automates the
process.”
Tanwar said the device currently detects four violations — riding without
a helmet, wrong lane
driving, jumping traffic
signals, and riding on
footpaths.
During its first 10-to-15-minute ride, it
flagged seven to eight violations. He said the device costs about Rs 4,000 and requires four
components, all of which were available to him.
The post received over 1,000 responses,
including from founders, traffic safety experts and the Bengaluru police.
“I received a lot of responses from people looking to invest in it,
including companies like Ather Energy, but I have no plans to
manufacture it commercially as of now. The police also reached out to me via
DMs. I will meet them sometime this week to take the idea forward.
A Rajasthan native, Tanwar said the
device needs more fine-tuning.
He said that during the ride, the device also flagged a few false violations, though these
were not forwarded to the police. “For instance, a man standing next to a
parked bike was flagged as not wearing a helmet while riding. Similarly, a car
parked in the opposite lane was also flagged. I am working to resolve these
issues.”
He has also built 120 such projects, including a
smart bulb that changes colour based on his Zerodha portfolio and a ‘Sanskari
helmet’ designed
to tone down angry statements
Surveillance tool?
Amid appreciative comments on social media, some
users raised concerns that the device could function as a surveillance tool.
Addressing this, Tanwar said roads are public spaces already covered by
CCTV cameras, calling it a “trade-off”, and added that he is exploring options
to blur the faces of violators in the images.
===================================================
Hey Pankaj ,
Congratulations for this admirable innovation
I believe you belong to those rare individuals , who say , “ I can do this , and I will do this “
Does my following idea seem feasible ?
( - if it excites you , let
me know : hcp@RecruitGuru.com )
> This
will take Ages
! ……………………….. 12 Dec
2017
Extract :
Hindustan Times ( 11 Dec ) carries following news
report :
Police to tie-up with postal service,
aim to collect fines for 7.5 lakh traffic violations
Summary :
· The
Mumbai traffic police’s SMS challan hit a roadblock as only 50,000 out of the 8 lakh violators have paid the fine since
January
· The
glitch forced the police to look for temporary measures – such as sending paper challans to the offender through
courier or summon them to chowkies to pay up – before alternative
arrangements are made
And the beauty of this alternative is
that , the violator will pay the fine , using a Mobile App-cum-Mobile Wallet
( FinePay ? ), within seconds of getting
that SMS on his mobile !
How come ?
When a driver jumps a red light, Traffic Police SMS ( delivered on FinePay ) will read :
# car speed will
reduce to 5 Km per hour
# car horn will keep blowing
# tail lights will keep flashing
# car A/c will shut down
# car , itself will get immobilized after 10 minutes !
From Jan 2018 , all cars will be pre-installed with an RFID micro-sensors , for
the
These RFID sensor will be linked to
the owner’s Aadhar ID and
his Bank Account number , to
facilitate automatic deduction of toll
Nothing stops our brilliant IT geeks
/ engineers , to link-up that RFID sensor with
the FinePay mobile app (
through which , the traffic police will deliver the SMS )
For further reference , read :
· Horn OK ?.......... https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/08/horn-ok.html
. Internet of Vehicles……… https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2017/03/internet-of-vehicles-iov.html
When I asked ChatGPT about its opinion / suggestion, here
is what it said :
“The core question— which is still
unanswered today — was:
Why should a traffic violator be allowed to
continue driving normally even after a violation is digitally proven?
The Missing Piece: Immediate, Automated
Consequence
Detection alone is
not enough.
Payment must be
immediate — or inconvenience must be immediate.
Today, in 2026, this idea
is far more feasible than it was in 2017,
thanks to technologies that now exist at scale:
Hardware & Vehicle-Side Capabilities
(Now Real)
·
FASTag / RFID
linked to vehicle ID and owner bank accounts
·
OBD-II ports
and CAN bus access in most vehicles
·
Software-defined vehicles
(especially EVs)
·
Telematics units
already used by insurers and fleet operators
Software & Network Capabilities
·
Real-time AI validation (which you’re
already using)
·
UPI / wallet-based instant payments
·
Secure government APIs (VAHAN, FASTag,
e-challan systems)
·
Edge + cloud orchestration “
Pankaj :
If you ever choose to take
this beyond a hobby project, I genuinely believe your work could:
·
Influence national traffic enforcement
design
·
Reduce accidents without increasing policing
manpower
·
Set global precedent for AI-assisted civic
compliance
Once again, Congratulations.
India needs more builders
like you — especially ones who start with code, not complaints.
Warm regards,
Hemen Parekh
www.HemenParekh.ai / www.IndiaAGI.ai / www.My-Teacher.in / 08 Jan @026
=================================================== 12 Jan 2026
I asked vO.app :
".... comment whether what I envisaged in 2017 , is technically feasible by NOW and what sensors would need to get installed in vehicles and what software will drive that mobile app ? "
vO.aap replid :
" Thought for 2sGreat question! Let me give you a detailed technical assessment of your **FinePay** concept from 2017 and its feasibility in 2026.
---
## Verdict: **Technically Feasible — Yes, Absolutely**
Your vision was ahead of its time. Here's how the pieces now fit together:
---
## 1. Vehicle-Side Sensors & Hardware Required
| Component | Purpose | Status in 2026
|-----|-----|-----
| **FASTag (RFID)** | Vehicle identification at toll plazas, intersections | Already mandatory in India
| **Telematics Control Unit (TCU)** | Remote communication (4G/5G) with cloud servers | Standard in new vehicles (connected cars)
| **OBD-II / CAN Bus Access** | Read/write vehicle parameters (speed, ignition, A/C, horn) | Present in all modern vehicles since 2000s
| **GPS Module** | Real-time location tracking | Standard in most vehicles / smartphones
| **eSIM / IoT SIM** | Always-on connectivity for receiving commands | Now common in telematics systems
| **Immobilizer Relay** | Remote engine disable capability | Already exists in anti-theft systems
**For newer software-defined vehicles (SDVs)** like Tesla, Mahindra XUV, Tata EVs — most of these are **already built-in** and controllable via OTA (over-the-air) updates.
---
## 2. Backend Infrastructure Required
| Component | Function
|-----|-----|-----
| **Central Violation Database** | Stores violations detected by AI cameras (like Pankaj's helmet), ANPR cameras, traffic police
| **Aadhaar-Vehicle Linkage** | Maps vehicle registration → owner's Aadhaar → mobile number → UPI ID
| **UPI/NPCI Integration** | Enables instant fine collection via autopay mandate or push notification
| **Telematics Command Server** | Sends progressive disable commands to vehicle TCU
| **Real-time Messaging (SMS/Push)** | Countdown warnings to violator
---
## 3. Mobile App Architecture
Here's what the **FinePay app** (or integration into DigiLocker/mParivahan) would need:
### Frontend (User-Facing)
- **Violation Alerts**: Push notification with image, location, timestamp
- **Countdown Timer**: 10-minute window to pay
- **One-Tap UPI Payment**: Pre-linked UPI ID for instant settlement
- **Violation History**: Past fines, payment receipts
- **Appeal/Dispute Flow**: Upload evidence to contest
### Backend Services
```plaintext
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ FINEPAY BACKEND │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ 1. Violation Ingestion Service │
│ - Receives data from AI cameras, ANPR, police apps │
│ │
│ 2. Identity Resolution Service │
│ - Vehicle Reg → Aadhaar → Mobile → UPI │
│ │
│ 3. Payment Gateway (UPI/NPCI) │
│ - Autopay mandate or collect request │
│ │
│ 4. Escalation Engine │
│ - Timer-based progressive enforcement │
│ - Triggers telematics commands at intervals │
│ │
│ 5. Telematics Command API │
│ - Sends CAN bus commands to vehicle TCU │
│ - Speed limiting, horn, A/C, immobilization │
│ │
│ 6. Appeal & Grievance Module │
│ - AI-assisted review + human escalation │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
### Tech Stack (2026-ready)
- **Backend**: Node.js / Python microservices on AWS/Azure
- **Database**: PostgreSQL + Redis (for real-time timers)
- **Messaging**: Firebase Cloud Messaging / WhatsApp Business API
- **Payments**: NPCI UPI APIs, Razorpay/PayU for collection
- **Telematics**: Integration with OEM APIs (Tata, Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki's connected car platforms)
- **AI Verification**: GPT-4/Gemini for violation validation (as Pankaj demonstrated)
---
## 4. What's Still Needed (Policy, Not Tech)
| Challenge | Current Status
|-----|-----|-----
| **Legal framework** for remote vehicle control | Needs Motor Vehicles Act amendment
| **OEM cooperation** to expose telematics APIs | Some OEMs (Tata, Mahindra) are open; others resist
| **Privacy safeguards** | Aadhaar-vehicle linkage raises concerns
| **Fail-safes** | What if system errors disable a vehicle on a highway?
| **Standardization** | Need a common protocol across all vehicle brands
---
## Bottom Line
**Your 2017 vision is 100% technically achievable today.** The hardware exists, the connectivity exists, UPI exists, AI verification exists.
The blockers are:
1. **Regulatory will** — Government needs to mandate telematics access
2. **OEM compliance** — Automakers must open their APIs
3. **Public acceptance** — Privacy and safety concerns need addressing
You were essentially describing what China has partially implemented with their Social Credit + Smart City systems, but applied specifically to traffic enforcement in a democratic framework.
==================
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