The Chinese company Suning Logistics said it has completed driving tests of its autonomous heavy-duty truck.
The subsidiary of Suning Holdings Group said completion of the tests of its “Strolling Dragon” marks another milestone in the company’s plan to offer fully automated logistics solutions.
“Strolling Dragon is the largest unmanned truck in Suning Logistics’ automated fleet, boasting Level-4 self-driving capabilities. It is highly automated and is able to operate without human input within pre-programmed parameters. It is the first self-driving truck developed by a Chinese e-commerce company to pass logistics campus tests and highway-scenario road tests in China,” the company said.
Suning Holdings Group Chairman Zhang Jindong said the tests’ success “represents another step forward in our online-to-offline smart retail strategy.”
“Suning’s goal is to develop its logistics business into the biggest and most intelligent retail infrastructure network in China. The promise of automation solutions will not only boost efficiency in Suning’s logistics operations, but also benefit the industry and consumers by offering more possibilities and a better shopping experience,” he said.
The company said, “Equipped with cutting-edge artificial intelligence, deep-learning technologies and high-tech gadgets such as laser radar, Strolling Dragon has superhuman vision that enables it to accurately recognize obstacles at a distance of over 300 meters, even at high speed.”
Suning launched its automated guided vehicles warehouse in 2017 to provide a “goods-to-people” solution. In April, Suning Logistics rolled out its Biu autonomous robots, which can work around the clock to deliver goods directly to customers.
“When considering the implications of applying automation technology to vehicles, Suning’s plans call for drivers to be assisted rather than replaced for the foreseeable future,” the company said. “The relatively complex and tiring job of long-distance driving puts drivers in high risk of accidents, while automation helps reduce such risk. With the help of self-driving technology, Suning Logistics can help create a more comfortable — and safer — working environment for over 100,000 truck drivers working for the company.”