Bengaluru creator of viral AI helmet says top cop ‘loved the idea’: ‘My tech could compliment...’

Bengaluru techie Pankaj Tanwar's AI‑helmet innovation went viral after he posted a demonstration showing how a dashcam and Raspberry Pi‑based AI could detect violations such as riding without helmets, wrong‑side driving, and running red lights. (Image credit: Pankaj Tanwar/X)

A Bengaluru-based software developer, who went viral for creating an AI-enabled helmet that records traffic violations in real-time and automatically forwards proof to the police, has said that a top official from the Bengaluru Police “genuinely loved” the idea. Pankaj Tanwar, 27, confirmed the response after meeting senior officials on Tuesday.

In an X post, he said that he spent roughly two hours with the joint commissioner and other officers. Discussions covered integration with the official AI-based big data platform used to manage traffic, the evolving challenge of large‑scale violation detection, and the philosophy that a sense of being observed can deter rule-breaking more effectively than traditional fines. Tanwar also highlighted low fine‑collection rates—only about 20 percent of issued challans are paid—and noted the project isn’t being pursued as a revenue generator.

“Met the joint commissioner (of traffic) Bengaluru today. Spent around two hours in a detailed discussion with officers. Pretty open, thoughtful, and they genuinely loved the idea," he said.

He also outlined the agreed next steps:

Integration with Bengaluru police’s ASTRAM systems.

Development of a compact prototype.

Refining AI models for real‑world conditions.

Crucially, the police emphasised deterrence and road safety over profit. “This isn’t being looked at as a revenue‑first product… likely needs some grants or institutional support to move forward,” Tanwar added.

From viral hack to institutional interest

Tanwar’s AI‑helmet innovation went viral after he posted a demonstration showing how a dashcam and Raspberry Pi‑based AI could detect violations such as riding without helmets, wrong‑side driving, and running red lights. The system cross‑verifies violations, then automatically emails photo and video evidence along with GPS coordinates to Bengaluru Traffic Police.

The helmet garnered widespread attention from the media, netizens, and even the Bengaluru Police. “OMG. Office of the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru reached out,” Tanwar shared on Sunday, along with a screenshot of the official message.

The Bengaluru City Police, through its verified handle, confirmed it had reviewed Tanwar’s widely circulated demonstration and was interested in understanding the technology further. In the message addressed to “Mr Pankaj,” the department said it found his helmet‑based traffic‑violation detection concept “innovative and interesting from a road safety perspective.”