In tests, smart vehicles keep getting smarter

In a vast open-pit mine somewhere in northwestern China, a quiet revolution is underway.

- By MA SI

A driverless car from Apollo Go, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing unit, runs in Wuhan, Hubei province, on October 4. LI CHANGLIN / FOR CHINA DAILY

(LI CHANGLIN / FOR CHINA DAILY)

Fifty-six self-driving mining trucks navigate the terrain, working alongside more than 500 mining vehicles operated by humans, in a carefully choreographed dance of efficiency and safety.

CiDi Inc, a startup based in Changsha, Hunan province, is the driving force behind this large-scale deployment of autonomous mining trucks operating in coordination with traditional vehicles.

"We're addressing the rigid demands of both the mining industry as well as policy," said Ma Wei, cofounder and vice-chairman of CiDi, emphasizing the company's exclusive focus on offering autonomous driving solutions for commercial vehicles.

"The essential requirement for autonomous driving is safety to eliminate dangerous jobs, work in remote areas, and operate with dust pollution."

While autonomous mining trucks represent one specialised application, China's intelligent connected vehicle ecosystem has expanded far beyond these rugged environments.