The first automatic electric cleaning truck in China will start its trial operation in six months. The reporter from the Youth Daily was able to see this new equipment developed by the department of vehicle of Tongji University at the “Sharing the fruit of smart transportation while promoting science” 2016 Electric Vehicle Interval Leasing promotion event sponsored by Shanghai International Auto City (Group) with the leadership of municipal science commission.
The vehicle does not look differently from regular cleaning trucks that have sweepers at its bottom. The reporter noticed that the driver’s seat and the seat beside it were still part of the automatic vehicle.
According to Wu Binbin from the department of vehicle of Tongji University, “The cleaning worker will have a good time and does not have to operate the vehicle, which can move and clean the streets by itself.” The vehicle consists of the environment sensing part, smart decision making part and the sweeping part.
“In the same way that we know the road situation by our eyes, the vehicle collects information by radar and makes decision by its smart decision making system that is like its brain.” The ultrasound wave emitted by the vehicle can reach 3 meters in front and the millietric wave from its back can reach 50 meters so that it can avoid any obstacles or slow down if necessary.
The battery of this electric vehicle can support 100 kilometers when fully charged. Wu Binbin told us, “We’ve made three of these and they are being adjusted and will be launched on specific road in six months. Later, we will produce 30 and try them in Jiading and Pudong.”