Kathmandu. While the automobile sector in Nepal is rapidly moving towards digital and electronic technology, Nepal is still lagging behind in terms of infrastructure, data management, research, cyber security and skilled manpower development. They stressed on the need for Nepal to develop automobiles as a field of data, technology, research and innovation rather than just as an import and sale commodity. <\/p>\n
In a dialogue titled ‘AI & Automotive Technology: Driving the Future of Mobility’ organized by Nepal Automobiles Importers and Manufacturers Association (NIIMA), representatives from industry, government, research and academia put their views on topics ranging from the possibilities of AI in automobile to the necessary policies, infrastructures and human resources. <\/p>\n
Speaking on the occasion, Suryansh Vaidya, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vaidya Energy said that AI can be used not only in automobile but also in traffic management, vehicle safety and business operations. According to him, by analyzing the data obtained from the sensors and other equipment installed in the vehicle, more safe, easy and effective service can be provided to the users. <\/p>\n
Vaidya said that with the use of AI, work can be done from identifying the condition of the road to improving the driving style. He also said that AI can be used in route planning to suggest suitable charging stations before the vehicle’s battery runs out. He also pointed out the possibility of changing the traction control mode according to the condition of the road by linking weather and rainfall data to the vehicle system. <\/p>\n
However, the use of autonomous driving in Nepal is not immediately easy, according to Vaidya. “The training data required for this technology mostly comes from an environment with good roads, clear lanes and well-managed traffic,” he said, adding that local data and research is necessary for Nepal’s different roads and traffic conditions. <\/p>\n
According to him, sharing the data collected from vehicles with the concerned government bodies could also help identify problems related to roads, potholes and other infrastructures. He said that the purpose of mobility of the future should not only be to sell new vehicles, but also to develop systems that can move people from one place to another safely, easily and efficiently. <\/p>\n
Similarly, Chief Advisor of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sanjay Poudel, pointed out the need for data management and government regulation in the modern automobile sector. With the rise in the use of electric and technological vehicles in Nepal, the government’s role should be made more effective in the regulation of data, quality check, cybersecurity and technology produced by vehicles. <\/p>\n
“There is a need for a clear system on how to collect data of goods before and after import, how to measure the quality and how to use the data received,” he said. <\/p>\n
Poudel also said that the possibility of keeping cyber security and data in Nepal and the cost for it should also be studied at the policy level. He said that with the increase in the use of software, connectivity, sensors and digital systems in vehicles, vehicle-related data will also be linked to cybersecurity. He also said that the government should prioritize how much time and resources to invest in which areas along with the issue of establishing new innovation labs in Nepal. According to him, research should be carried out on the basis of Nepal’s needs and economic potentials rather than investing in all technologies at once. <\/p>\n
Similarly, despite the introduction of new technology in the automobile sector, Nepal is weak in producing manpower according to the information technology director of Texas College of Management and IT. Suman Thapaliya said. According to him, although the use of electric and modern vehicles is increasing in Nepal, adequate attention has not been paid to technology, research and skilled human resources development to this extent. <\/p>\n
According to Thapaliya, most of the colleges and universities in Nepal still give more emphasis on traditional subjects like programming, web development, database, networking, etc. However, there is a need to pay attention to the production of manpower required for sensors, automation, AI and other digital systems being used in modern vehicles. <\/p>\n
He said that subjects like AI, cyber security, embedded systems, robotics, edge computing, automotive software and digital forensics should be included in education with priority. Stating that the needs of the future cannot be fulfilled only by studying embedded systems as a subject, he said that students should study in depth about its advanced version, robotics, edge computing and automotive software. <\/p>\n
Thapaliya proposed to keep 60 percent core academic, 20 percent emerging technology and 20 percent industry application in the current curriculum. With this, students will be able to understand the basic knowledge, the practice of new technology and the real needs of the industry. <\/p>\n
Sandhya Sitaula, executive director of Nepal Applied Mathematics and Informatics Institute for Research, said that AI should not be seen only as a technology to take away jobs. According to him, AI is not only simplifying the way of working, but also aiding in research, analysis, and identification of new possibilities. He said that the use of AI should be increased at the government level as well. <\/p>\n
She said that the debate on AI has given priority only to the issue of job loss, and there is also a need to debate on how technology is making the work simple and effective. According to Dr. Sitaula, long-term investment is necessary to build a research ecosystem in Nepal. According to him, the research should be seen as a long-term investment rather than an expense. <\/p>\n
According to him, data security has also become an important issue with the development of technology. She further said that Nepal should move forward as a contributing country in technology and research, rising above its role as a consumer, by investing in the necessary infrastructure to keep data safe. <\/p>\n
Underlining the need of collaboration among the government, private sector and research institutions, she stressed the need of using research done in Nepal to solve local problems. According to him, if problems in an area can be solved by using local data, an environment should be created to implement such research into practice. <\/p>\n
Similarly, the views expressed in the Naima Dialogue have shown that Nepal’s automobile sector is no longer limited to import, sale and operation of vehicles. At a time when AI, sensors, software, connectivity, data, and automation are changing the nature of vehicles, Nepal needs to change its policies, education, research and infrastructure accordingly. <\/p>\n
The speakers of the dialogue pointed out the need of sharing the data produced by the industry with the government and research institute in a safe and useful manner, research to incorporate local road and traffic situation, cybersecurity, modern equipment for quality testing, AI infrastructure and technology-friendly human resources development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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