The rise of autonomous vehicles has witnessed significant progress in recent years which transitioning from conceptual and complex frameworks to real-world implementations. In addition to these advancements, this article presents the development of a simple yet functional prototype of a self-driving autonomous vehicle that is capable of obstacle detection, image acquisition, email-based alert response, and real-time GPS tracking. The system architecture uses a dual-microcontroller configuration, integrating the Arduino Uno for sensor data processing and decision-making, and the ESP32-CAM for image capturing and acquisition. Obstacle detection is achieved through a sensor fusion mechanism, monitoring the vehicle’s surroundings, and triggering predefined actions upon identifying obstructions. Upon detecting a critical object, the Arduino Uno commands the ESP32-CAM to capture an image, which is eventually transmitted to a predefined email address. Simultaneously, a GPS module providing continuous location updates enables remote vehicle movement monitoring. A custom-designed web dashboard has been developed for real-time tracking of authorized users. The proposed system showcases the potential of cost-effective embedded hardware in building intelligent, scalable, and responsive autonomous navigation solutions. This article prototype offers promising applicability for future urbanisation and surveillance systems, particularly in resource-constrained environments.