Unmanned vehicles

in Guangzhou

Concept of Unmanned Driving

Not considered autonomous driving
L0
No automation
The driver controls the vehicle manually.
Technologies: cruise control, blind spot warning, automatic emergency braking, etc.
L1
Driver assistance
Steering or braking systems are applied (not simultaneously).
Technologies: adaptive speed controller or adaptive cruise control, etc.
L2
Partial Automation
Automatic systems combine steering and braking (under constant driver supervision).
Is considered autonomous driving
L3
Conditional Automation
Full driving automation in certain situations (traffic jams, highways, designated lanes), but the driver must be ready to take control at any moment.
L4
High level of automation
  • Full automation in most situations, including crisis situations. The driver can engage in other activities but must respond to vehicle signals within a set reaction time.
  • Implemented in limited spaces (e.g., special zones, low-speed city centers).
L5
Full automation
Full automation without restrictions, no human driver involved. Not yet realized in practice.

Autonomuys vehicles in China

In December 2023, China approved national safety requirements for unmanned vehicles.
  • It is applicable to all types of unmanned transportation, including buses, taxis, and trucks.
  • Unmanned buses and trams are allowed only on “physically restricted, relatively closed, and fixed routes with simple road conditions”.
  • Buses, trams, and trucks must have an onboard operator for safety monitoring. Highly autonomous taxis (approx. L3) also require an operator's presence.
  • Fully autonomous taxis (L4) must be monitored by a remote operator (at least one operator for every three vehicles).
  • Unmanned vehicles must record a 360-view around them, record the audio inside the vehicle and keep a log of remote-control commands (which is streamed online to the carrier and local authorities). In case of an accident, the carrier must provide a complete recording of 90 seconds before the accident.
  • Unmanned trucks are only allowed to make simple trips from point A to point B on highways and such roads where "road safety can be monitored." Unmanned trucks are not allowed to carry dangerous goods.

China's plans for autonomous vehicles:

  • Select the most suitable models of autonomous vehicles for mass production.
  • Design highways to meet autonomous vehicle requirements.
Транспорт
Leaders among Chinese cities
in the implementation of driverless buses:
  • Guangzhou
  • Beijing
  • Wuhan
  • Chongqing
  • Shanghai
  • Shenzhen
  • Tianjin
Industry leaders:
  • Baidu
  • Pony.AI
  • WeRide
  • Didi Autonomous Driving

Autonomous vehicles in Guangzhou

> 1
Expected passenger
traffic in 2024 -
 million people
Город
In 2018, Guangzhou was chosen by the Chinese Government among six other cities to develop smart city technologies and intelligent vehicles.
Guangzhou authorities allocated testing areas for unmanned vehicles in Nansha ("smart vehicles demonstration zone"), Haizhu and Huangpu, Pazhou ("AI and digital economy pilot zone").
In April 2023, Pony.AI became the first company in China to receive permission from Guangzhou authorities to test fully autonomous robotaxis on 803 km2 testing area in Nansha.
(likely L4 level, with over 200 autonomous taxis of earlier levels already operating in the city).
Since January 2024, Guangzhou operates 50 autonomous buses on five routes totaling 35 km.

Timeline of the industry
of autonomous buses in Guangzhou:

Хронология
2018
Establishment of an autonomous vehicle business line within the Guangzhou Technology Cluster.
2019-2020
First center for production of 5G autonomous vehicles in China.
2021
Pilot project for L3 autonomous buses.
(L3 means full automation in certain situations, but the driver must be ready to take control at any moment).
2022-2023
Pilot project for L4 buses.
(L4 means full automation in most situations, including dangerous situations. It has been Implemented in closed spaces).
2024
Scaling L4 bus technology.
Автобус
Details of the unmanned bus system:
  • Speed limit: 40 km/h
  • Working hours:
    8:00-21:00 - day route
    21:20-22:40 - night route
    Frequency - every 20 minutes
    (every 8-10 minutes during peak hours)
  • All passengers must be seated, minors must be accompanied by adults.
Шестеренки