A Chinese-made self-driving truck has passed a navigation test, heralding the era of intelligent, automated heavy vehicles.
FAW Jiefang, a leading truck manufacturer, debuted the self-driving truck at FAW Tech Center in Changchun City in the northeastern Jilin Province. The truck was able to recognize obstacles, slow down, make a detour, and speed up.
The truck reacted correctly to traffic lights, adaptive cruise controls and remote commands, company sources said.
FAW Jiefang now plans to let the intelligent driving vehicle on public roads as early as 2018.
Chinese-made self-driving truck during a navigation test / sohu.com
Hu Hanjie, FAW Jiefang general manager, said the company has built a whole industry chain partnership to develop, manufacture, sell, and service self-driving trucks. The participation of more firms across the sector will accelerate the technology's use in heavy-duty vehicles.
Leading Chinese tech firms, including Baidu and Tencent, have invested in self-driving entities. Baidu, for example, has tested driverless mini cars at the annual World Internet Conference for the last two years.
Industry insiders, however, said the technology may prove more practical when it is used on trucks than private cars as truck drivers are more likely to drive tired. The new systems could cut operational costs by replacing drivers.
（Source: Xinhua)
