Nanjing starts driverless mini bus operation

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- A trial operation of a driverless minibus has started at the Nanjing-based Southeast University, which marked the project of driverless minibus demonstration zone has been officially initiated.

The four meter long electric minibus has six seats and can take 12 passengers with a full load weight of 3,000kg. With a symmetrical design, the vehicle can be driven in front side and back side. The onboard navigation system processes data from eight radars installed around the vehicle. Although the bus is devoid of steering wheel and console, it can achieve self-driving relying on the in-vehicle electronic systems, like computer, radar and navigation system. The bus can travel for 14 hours on a full charge, at a maximum speed of 20km per hour.

In the first trial operation, it ran along a 4.5km route between research buildings, canteens and dormitories. The bus will be open and free to the students and faculties in the next semester. Staffs will be on duty to ensure the safe running of mini buses and to deal with emergencies.

This project was co-developed by Southeast University and Nanjing Yangzi State-owned Investment Group. The operation and maintenance team is from Southeast University which signed a strategic cooperative memo with Nanjing Yangzi State-owned Investment Group last year to co-build a national level intelligent-connected vehicle (ICV) demonstration zone.

This project is in correspondence with the concept of smart campus and smart city and a part of China's effort to promote environmental and economic travelling. The driverless mini buses can serves as the “capillary” of city's public transportation. Meanwhile, it helps connect traffic hubs and the final destinations, like industrial parks and campuses.

Based on the driverless mini bus, Southeast University will explore a more in-depth R&D in ICV-related technologies and applications in the future.