Baidu conducts trial operation of Apolong L4 autonomous bus in Beijing

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Baidu said on November 22 that its Level 4 autonomous bus Apolong—a joint effort between Baidu and Fujian-based bus manufacturer King Long, has been put into trial operation at Beijing's Haidian Park for 21 days. 

The Internet giant, along with the government of Haidian District, plans to build the Haidian Park into the world's first AI-themed park that allows visitors to experience AI technologies and autonomous vehicles.

There currently are two Apolong mini buses with capacity of 14 people running at Haidian Park. Visitors are given two accesses at the park to have a trial ride from Monday to Sunday.

The world's first mass-produced L4 autonomous mini bus “Apolong” developed by Baidu Apollo in collaboration with King Long rolled off the production line at its manufacturing facility in Xiamen, Baidu's chairman Robin Li, announced at Baidu Create 2018 on July 4. 

Baidu stated then the mass-produced buses would be sent to several cities in China for commercial operation, including Beijing, Xiongan New Area, Shenzhen, Pingtan and Wuhan, etc. Besides, it joined hands with King Long and SB Drive, the autonomous driving subsidiary of Japan's SoftBank Group, to export Apolong autonomous mini buses to Japan in early 2019. Reportedly, the Apolong buses will be used as shuttles in Japan to serve staff from nuclear power station and senior citizen community.

The Apolong carries Baidu's latest autonomous driving system Apollo 3.0 that aims to offer solutions for mass production. Powered by HD map and intelligent sensing technologies, the system is able to detect the information from surroundings and process data collected by HD map, do the optimum route planning and make proper driving decisions by judging vehicles' and pedestrians' behavior intentions.