Unmanned delivery vehicle fleet debuts in Ningbo

An unmanned delivery vehicle waits to be loaded at a SF Express distribution center in Ningbo, Zhejiang province. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

A fleet of seven unmanned delivery vehicles made its debut on the streets of Ningbo, Zhejiang province on March 13, marking a significant step forward in the integration of autonomous technology in the logistics industry.

The vehicles, featuring a pristine white finish and prominently displaying the insignia of SF Express, a leading courier company in China, each have a cargo capacity of 3 cubic meters and a maximum payload of 500 kilograms. They are capable of reaching a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour and can cover a range of 200 km on a full charge.

During a live demonstration, onlookers marveled as the vehicles autonomously navigated city streets, adhering to traffic signals and deftly maneuvering through intersections. Liu Hao, manager of the Dixintong distribution center of SF Express in Ningbo National High-tech Industrial Development Zone, remarked, "The technological sophistication of these vehicles is remarkable. They are equipped with multiple lidar sensors and cameras, providing a comprehensive 360-degree view of their surroundings."

Liu further explained that the vehicles integrate Level 4 autonomous driving, artificial intelligence, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technologies, enabling them to independently plan routes, circumvent obstacles, and recognize traffic signals. In instances where challenges exceed the vehicle's capabilities, remote operators can intervene to ensure safe navigation.

The vehicles are poised to revolutionize the safety and efficiency of package delivery services. Li Shihu, operational manager of SF Express in Ningbo National High-tech Industrial Development Zone, revealed that over 40,000 parcels are dispatched in the zone daily. Replacing traditional delivery vans with unmanned ones is expected to reduce transit time by an hour and a half, effectively doubling or tripling delivery efficiency.

Initially, the seven unmanned delivery vehicles will be deployed across seven distribution centers, covering 42 routes within the zone. As part of an ambitious rollout plan, SF Express in Ningbo aims to introduce an additional 40 unmanned delivery vehicles across Ningbo in the first half of this year.