1 day ago
Pakistan’s Remote-Controlled Driverless Car Crashes Into Police Van
A journalist in Pakistan filmed a car that was supposed to drive without a person steering it.
The car was not fully independent because someone controlled it remotely using the internet.
During the demonstration, the car suddenly turned toward a parked police van.
The journalist pulled the handbrake, but the car still crashed.
He said the internet connection had stopped working.
The student who built the car said the wrong control command may have been pressed.
Police investigated and decided that no offence had been committed.
The video became popular online, with some people joking and others supporting the young inventor while calling for safer testing.
Journalist Muhammad Aalijah filmed a remotely controlled experimental car at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.
The vehicle suddenly turned toward and crashed into a parked police van.
Aalijah tried to stop the car with the handbrake but could not prevent the collision.
Aalijah blamed an internet disruption, while developer Ehsan Zafar attributed the crash to a wrong command.
Police found no evidence of an offence and described the incident as a human mistake.
- Who
- Journalist Muhammad Aalijah demonstrated a vehicle developed by Abbottabad technology enthusiast and computer-engineering student Ehsan Zafar; one report names the developer Ahsan Zafar Abbasi.
- What
- A remotely operated experimental vehicle lost control and hit a parked police van.
- Where
- The demonstration took place at D-Chowk in Islamabad, Pakistan.
- When
- The video was uploaded on Sunday; the articles do not consistently provide a calendar date.
- Why
- Aalijah was reporting on Zafar’s automated-driving project; Aalijah cited an internet disruption, while Zafar said a wrong control command caused the crash.
Innovation and Experimentation
Safety and Reliability Concerns
Cause of the crash
Innovation and Experimentation
Ehsan Zafar said the wrong control command was pressed during the demonstration, causing the car to turn into the police vehicle.
Safety and Reliability Concerns
Muhammad Aalijah said an internet disruption interrupted remote operation and caused the vehicle to lose control.
Meaning of the demonstration
Innovation and Experimentation
Supporters viewed the project as a significant effort by a young Pakistani innovator and urged him to continue working on it.
Safety and Reliability Concerns
Aalijah said the vehicle was not completely safe or reliable and that such experiments should be thoroughly tested before being used near traffic or people.
Public reaction
Innovation and Experimentation
Some social-media users appreciated the technical effort and argued that one failed test should not discourage the inventor.
Safety and Reliability Concerns
Other users mocked the collision and questioned the safety of demonstrating a remotely controlled vehicle in a public area.
Key facts
- Vehicle operation
- The vehicle was remotely controlled through an internet-connected application, with a camera used to view its surroundings.
- Developer
- Ehsan Zafar, also identified in one report as Ahsan Zafar Abbasi, was described as an Abbottabad technology enthusiast and computer-engineering student.
- Project history
- Zafar said he had worked on the personal project since 2018 in a home laboratory.
- Crash location
- The vehicle struck a police van parked near the roadside at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.
- Competing explanations
- Aalijah blamed an internet disruption, while Zafar said the wrong key was pressed, causing the vehicle to turn left instead of right.
- Police response
- SP City Zone Dr Ayaz Hussain said police found no evidence of an offence and regarded the incident as a human mistake.
- Online reaction
- The footage went viral, inspired memes, and was reposted by Indian actor Ranvir Shorey.
Quotes
Ahsan Zafar Abbasi
COMSATS University computer engineering student who developed the vehicle
“The sole purpose was to raise awareness and urge people to remain cautious until any new experiment or technology has been thoroughly tested, proven safe and established as a complete success.”
indianexpress.com
“Had the same situation occurred on a busy road, the consequences could have been extremely dangerous, even fatal. Technological innovation is commendable, but not at the cost of human life.”
NDTV
indianexpress.com
Ranvir Shorey
Actor who reposted the crash video on social media
“Presenting Pakistan's answer to the self-driving Tesla: The Masla.”
NDTV
freepressjournal.in
Sources
Pakistan's Answer To Tesla? It Crashed Into A Police Van On Live Stream
Pakistani Man Flaunts 'Talent' In Country During 'Driverless' Car Demo; Crashes Into Police Van Moments Later - Video Goes Viral
‘No shortage of talent’: Pakistan’s ‘driverless’ car crashes into police van during demo
How Pakistani 'man's self-driving car' hit a police vehicle?
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