- Apolong II has no steering wheel, powered by advanced
autonomous driving technologies that mirror Apollo Robotaxi
performance
- The customizable multi-purpose autonomous minibus solution can
comprehensively meet evolving needs under diversified
scenarios
- Apolong II is set to be deployed in public parks, airports,
business districts and residential communities in Huangpu District,
Guangzhou
BEIJING, Aug. 6, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Baidu, Inc.
(NASDAQ:BIDU and HKEX:9888) on Thursday announced the
launch of Apolong II, a new generation of multi-purpose autonomous
minibuses that are being rolled out in Guangzhou Huangpu District.
The Apolong II is equipped with advanced autonomous driving
capabilities and the latest in-vehicle smart cabin technologies to
enhance passenger experience. In line with these substantial
upgrades, the Apolong II can comprehensively meet diversified
market demands by providing customizable multi-purpose autonomous
vehicle solutions for public transport, mobile policing, healthcare
providers and other commercial industry scenarios, marking a
milestone in the ongoing evolution of smart transportation for this
intelligent era.
The Apolong II minibus effectively mirrors the powerful
autonomous driving capabilities of Baidu's Apollo Robotaxi by
incorporating the latest self-developed autonomous driving
computing unit and sensor system. Compared to its predecessor, the
Apolong II has received sweeping upgrades comprised of 155
capability enhancements that enable Apolong II to operate on open
roads as the operational design domain (ODD) has been expanded. The
computing power of Apolong II has increased three times to 372
Tops. Its sensor system is enhanced to include two 40-channel LiDAR
sensors, which integrate millimeter-wave radars and surround view
cameras. The refined sensor system can now detect up to 250
meters, while positioning accuracy and overall responsivity have
reached new levels to be measured in centimeters or milliseconds
respectively. The Apolong II can successfully navigate the
complexities of operating on open roads, such as unprotected left
turns, lane-switching and crossing traffic scenarios.
The diverse adaptability and extensive applications of the
Apolong II multi-purpose autonomous minibus allow it to connect a
wide range of traffic scenarios and revolutionize the smart
transportation industry. Its ability to complement other autonomous
vehicles or traditional public transport can greatly reduce the
walking distance of users, providing a refreshing new take towards
solving the last mile problem for citizens. Apolong II can be
repurposed for a magnitude of real-world scenarios by being
utilized as public transportation modes, ride-hailing services,
scenic tours and more.
The Apolong II utilizes Baidu's vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and
5G remote driving service, complete with dual redundancy to ensure
safety and reliability. With seamless vehicle-road coordination,
issues related to smart driving for individual vehicles can be
reduced by 54%, while emergency braking situations at intersections
are reduced by 90%. The 5G cloud-based driving can also enable the
autonomous minibus to drive safely and smoothly even under extreme
circumstances.
Aside from its refined autonomous driving capabilities, the
Apolong II also boasts cutting-edge smart cabin solutions. For
starters, an intelligent 55-inch transparent window display jointly
developed by Baidu and BOE Technology has been installed to
visually showcase the road conditions and autonomous driving
technologies at work. Apolong II passengers can also use this HD
screen to voice-activate and command its in-vehicle DuerOS
assistant, having access to navigation features to explore the
surrounding area for dining or entertainment recommendations. Its
spacious smart cabin is designed with a circular seating
arrangement and decked out with dome lighting fixtures to provide
an innovative yet intimate experience for users.
As the first commercial-grade autonomous electric minibus
launched in China, the Apolong
series has been in volume production since July 2018. Having already been deployed in 22
urban parks in Beijing,
Guangzhou, Xiong'an, Chongqing, Foshan and more – the
first-generation Apolong is the only self-driving minibus to
achieve large-scale operations in China, accumulating over 120,000 users and a
total mileage of 120,000 kilometers.
The Guangzhou Huangpu District is revered as a benchmark city
for new smart transportation infrastructure and stands at the
forefront of innovative autonomous driving technology. Going
forward, the Apolong II will fulfil multi-purpose commercialized
applications and provide citizens with the ultimate smart
transportation experiences by being deployed in public parks,
airports, business districts and residential communities in the
Huangpu District of Guangzhou.
About Baidu
Founded in 2000, Baidu's mission is to make the complicated
world simpler through technology. Baidu is a leading AI company
with strong Internet foundation. Baidu is traded on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market under the symbol "BIDU", and on the main board
of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under the stock code "9888".
Currently, one ADS represents eight Class A ordinary shares.
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SOURCE Baidu, Inc.