Mar. 15, 2022
Source: China Science and Technology Network
Hefei, March 12 — Hefei has officially launched its first open-road test of autonomous delivery vehicles in the city’s High-Tech Zone. Recently, the Hefei Intelligent Connected Vehicle Industry Development Leading Group Office issued Rino.ai an “Intelligent Connected Vehicle Road Test Notice”, granting the company permission to operate within designated road rights for testing. The test routes are mainly concentrated around the Hejiafu Supermarket (Gaoxin Branch) and Yonghui Supermarket (Daxidi Branch).
The initial testing phase focuses on assessing Rino.ai’s autonomous delivery vehicles in obstacle detection, pedestrian and vehicle recognition, response to traffic signals, as well as remote intervention and control. Working in partnership with local supermarkets, Rino.ai will run fresh produce and grocery deliveries within a 3–5 km radius of the stores.
To ensure smooth testing, the High-Tech Zone Urban Management Bureau and Traffic Police have set up road test signage and will strengthen inspections along the routes. Local authorities and the Tianle Community Service Center have also issued public notices explaining the concept of intelligent unmanned vehicles and reminding citizens not to gather around them during operation.
According to company engineers, Rino.ai is China’s first L4 autonomous driving solution provider to use its technology for fresh produce and supermarket deliveries on open urban roads. The company has full L4 R&D and mass production capabilities and has already tested and operated in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen—accumulating over 40,000 km of accident-free commercial operation.
In 2019, Rino.ai began routine road testing in Beijing’s Intelligent Driving Demonstration Zone.
In early 2020, it participated in pandemic relief in Wuhan, delivering medicine and supplies to makeshift hospitals.
In Q3 2020, it began testing in Jiading District, Shanghai.
In December last year, Hefei was selected as part of China’s second batch of Smart City Infrastructure & Intelligent Connected Vehicle Industry Coordination Pilot Cities, marking a historic development opportunity for the local sector. The Hefei High-Tech Zone already hosts a cluster of leading industry players such as NavInfo, iFLYTEK, Hikvision, Rino.ai, CAS StarSpeed, and CAS ZhiChi. Leveraging the arrival of projects like Rino.ai, the zone aims to secure more road testing rights, expand unmanned vehicle applications to areas like firefighting, epidemic prevention, and passenger transport, and create a unique “Scenario Free-Trade Zone” model.
