TuSimple Holdings, Inc., a leader in autonomous driving technology, breaks new ground in China by completing the country’s first fully autonomous semi-truck drive on public roads, taking a huge leap towards driverless road freight operations.
What’s Happening
TuSimple Holdings, Inc., an industry leader in autonomous driving technology, has proudly announced the successful completion of the first fully autonomous semi-truck journey on open public roads in China. This historic drive, dubbed the “Driver Out” run, was completed without a human in the vehicle or any form of human intervention, showcasing the impressive capabilities of TuSimple’s Autonomous Driving System.
Why It Matters
The operation marks a significant milestone for TuSimple and the autonomous driving industry at large. This test run took place on public roads in Shanghai, including the Yangshan Deep-water Port Logistics Park and Donghai Bridge, covering an approximate distance of 62 kilometers. The autonomous truck navigated through complex weather and road conditions, showcasing its ability to handle situations such as traffic signals, on-ramps, off-ramps, lane changes, emergency lane vehicles, partial lane closures, fog, and crosswinds.
Key Points
The Driver Out run was not remotely controlled by a human nor did it need traffic intervention. To ensure public safety during the operation, TuSimple worked closely with government regulators and law enforcement and deployed a safety vehicle. The event is the culmination of over two years of intense development work and is a testament to TuSimple’s commitment to developing a robust autonomous driving system. This technology fulfills the SAE Level 4 requirements, indicating a strong emphasis on redundancy, reliability, and stability to facilitate safe, fully driverless operations on open roads.
Bottom Line
The successful Driver Out run in China represents a significant step forward for TuSimple, underlining the company’s leading position in the autonomous driving industry. “This accomplishment marks another pivotal breakthrough for TuSimple following our successful Driver Out run in the United States in 2021,” stated Cheng Lu, President, and CEO of TuSimple. The venture points to the future of logistics, highlighting the potential for large-scale, fully autonomous road freight operations.
