A number of innovations, including a solar-powered driverless bus, will be on display at the upcoming Indian Science Congress which will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 3.

Renewable energy is expected to be the key focus of the five-day 106th edition of the Science Congress with the theme 'Future India: Science and Technology'.

The Congress, which will bring innovators and scientists under one roof, will be held on the premises of Lovely Professional University (LPU).

The University will showcase its own innovation in the form of a solar-powered driverless bus. The eco-friendly heavy vehicle will ferry passengers to the aerodrome, housing societies, industrial complexes, and educational institutions.

University spokesperson said that the design of the solar bus has been made in accordance with the available Indian infrastructure. The bus, which will cost Rs six lakh each, can have seating capacity between 10 and 30 and can run at the maximum speed of 30 km per hour.

“We are very happy to design a completely driverless and eco-friendly bus to welcome PM Modi. If his schedule and security arrangements permit, we would love to give him a tour of our campus in the bus,” said the project head Mandeep Singh.

Chancellor Ashok Mittal said that the driverless bus is an example of LPU students being at the forefront of technology.

“Some other interesting projects done by LPU students include Flying Farmer, a wireless sensor device, exclusively used in farming and field survey, Formula one car and Go-karts,” he added.